Vehicular operating pedal device with load sensor and operating device with load sensor

ABSTRACT

A clevis pin (connecting pin) ( 26 ) is inserted into a clearance hole ( 72 ), and is displaceable relative to an operating pedal ( 16 ). A pivotal moving link ( 68 ) is disposed between the clevis pin ( 26 ) and a sensor pin ( 64 ) of a load sensor ( 30 ). A reaction force applied from the clevis pin ( 26 ) to the load sensor ( 30 ) always acts in a substantially constant direction (substantially leftward in FIG.  1 A) even if the operating pedal ( 16 ) and an operating rod ( 22 ) are pivoted relatively around the axis of the clevis pin ( 26 ) in accordance with the depressing operation of the operating pedal ( 16 ). Thus, the detecting accuracy of the load sensor ( 30 ) is heightened, and variation in detecting accuracy is prevented, rendering the high reliability.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a division of application Ser. No. 11/980,674, filed Oct. 31,2007, which claims Paris Convention priority of both Japanese PatentApplication No. 2007-067943 filed on Mar. 16, 2007 and Japanese PatentApplication No. 2007-149198 filed on Jun. 5, 2007, all of which arehereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an operating device, such as an operatingpedal device for a vehicle, and more particularly, to an improvement inthe operating device with a load sensor electrically detecting anoperating force.

2. Description of the Related Art

A following device is known as an operating device provided with orequipped with a load sensor. This operating device with load sensorincludes (a) an operating member operated to be moved, (b) a reactionforce member to which an operating force of the operating member istransmitted, to which a reaction force corresponding to the operatingforce is acted, (c) at least one pivotal movement connecting portionthat is disposed between the operating member and the reaction forcemember, to connect a pair of members to be relatively pivotable around aconnecting pin, and to transmit an operating force through theconnecting pin, and (d) a load sensor electrically detecting anoperating force.

A brake pedal device for a vehicle disclosed in a following PatentDocument 1 is an example of such the operating device with a loadsensor. A push rod (i.e., a reaction force member) protruding from amaster cylinder is connected to a connecting pin projected on a sideportion of an operating pedal to be relatively movable in an axialdirection. A displacing amount of the push rod displacing relative tothe connecting pin resisting the urging force of a spring is detected bya sensor.

-   Patent Document 1: U.S. Pat. No. 5,563,355

However, in the device disclosed by Patent Document 1, because the pushrod is required to have a slotted opening for the relatively movableconnection, a general push rod cannot be used for this device withoutbeing changed. Additionally, in accordance with the depressing operationof the operating pedal, the push rod pivots relative to the connectingpin. Therefore, a spring that biases or urges the push rod and a sensorthat detects the displaced amount are also required to be arranged topivot relative to the connecting pin, thus making the structure of thedevice complex. Still additionally, because the push rod, the spring andthe sensor are disposed beside the operating pedal, especially a brakepedal is required to have a sturdy structure to secure a stableoperating state, thus resulting in increase in both size and cost as awhole.

In contrast, a technique, though not yet well known, for compactlyarranging a load sensor at a connecting position of a clevis pin hasbeen proposed as shown in FIG. 25. FIGS. 25A and 25B show an operatingpedal device 200 used in a service brake for a vehicle, of which FIG.25A is a front view thereof, and FIG. 25B is an enlarged view along lineXXVA-XXVA of FIG. 25A. A pedal support 12 fixed integrally to a vehiclebody has a plate-like operating pedal 16 disposed pivotably around theaxis of a substantially horizontal support shaft 14. The operating pedal16 is depressed with the foot of a driver in accordance with brakinginstructions. A pad 18 is disposed at a lower end of the operating pedal16, and an operating rod 22 of a brake booster is connected to a middleportion of the operating pedal 16 by a pivotal movement connectingportion 20.

The pivotal movement connecting portion 20 is composed of a U-shapedclevis 24 fixed integrally to an end of the operating rod 22 by a screwfor example, and a clevis pin 26 disposed on the operating pedal 16 tobe parallel to the support shaft 14. The operating rod 22 and theoperating pedal 16 are connected to be relatively pivotable around theaxis of the clevis pin 26. The clevis pin 26, corresponding to a claimedconnecting pin, has axial ends projecting sideways from the operatingpedal 16, and is held not to slip off from the U-shaped clevis 24 by asnap ring or a retaining pin.

An output corresponding to the operating force of the operating pedal 16is transmitted to the operating rod 22 through the pivotal movementconnecting portion 20, and a reaction force corresponding to the outputis acted i.e., allowed to act by a brake booster. The operating rod 22corresponds to a claimed reaction force member. If the operating pedaldevice is of a by-wire type which electrically controls a wheel brake, areaction force member in which a predetermined reaction force is actedby a reaction force mechanism for example, is connected instead of theoperating rod 22.

The operating pedal 16 has a sensor attaching hole 202 greater indiameter than the clevis pin 26 at a connecting position with the clevispin 26. A load sensor 30 is disposed in an annular space formed betweenthe sensor attaching hole 202 and the clevis pin 26. The load sensor 30is composed of a cylindrical deforming member 32, an annular member 34disposed radially outside, i.e., on an outer periphery surface of thedeforming member 32, and a shaft-like member 36 disposed radially insideof, i.e., on an inner periphery surface of the deforming member 32. Theload sensor 30 is used to detect a load applied to the deforming member32 in the radial direction thereof. The annular member 34, correspondingto a claimed main body member, is integrally attached to a sensorattaching hole 202 with a predetermined posture (phase) by a pressfitting or by use of a bolt or a leaf spring, and integrally holds oneaxial end (i.e., an upper end in FIG. 25B) of the deforming member 32 bywelding for example.

The shaft-like member 36 integrally holds other axial end (i.e., a lowerend in FIG. 25B) of the deforming member 32 by welding for example, andhas a through-hole 38 formed in an axis part through which the clevispin 26 passes. The clevis pin 26, the through-hole 38 and the clevis 24are constructed to be relatively rotatable, so that the member havingless friction is relatively pivoted in accordance with the depressingoperation of the operating pedal 16. However, to reduce friction,bearings or the like may be disposed therebetween, if necessary.

Thus, the annular member 34 and the shaft-like member 36 are mutuallyconnected through the deforming member 32. If the load is externallyapplied in the radial direction, i.e., in the direction perpendicular tothe axis is nearly zero, the members 32, 34 and 36 are held to besubstantially concentric, i.e., coaxially with the axis of the clevispin 26. On the other hand, if the load is radially applied between theannular member 34 and the shaft-like member 36 by the reaction force ofthe operating rod 22 in accordance with the depressing operation of theoperating pedal 16, the deforming member 32 undergoes a shear strain. Asa result, the annular member 34 fitted to the operating pedal 16displaces in a direction approaching the operating rod 22 (i.e.,leftward in FIG. 25) relatively with respect to the shaft-like member36.

An annular space is provided between the annular member 34 and theshaft-like member 36 to allow the annular member 34 and the shaft-likemember 36 to radially displace relative to each other, or to allow thedeforming member 32 to undergo the shear strain. The deforming member 32made of a metallic material such as ferritic stainless steel, can beelastically deformed by receiving a radial load, and it undergoes theshear strain in accordance with the operating force generated bydepressing the operating pedal 16.

To detect the shear strain of the deforming member 32, strain detectingelements such as strain resistive elements are attached to an outer orinner circumferential surface of the deforming member 32, and they areconnected to a control circuit section of a vehicle through a wireharness 56. The operating force of the depressing operation can bedetected based on an electric signal output from the strain detectingelements.

In the vehicular operating pedal device 200 thus constructed, in thepivotal movement connecting portion 20 which transmits an operatingforce applied onto the operating pedal 16 to the operating rod 22, asensor attaching hole 202 is formed on the operating pedal 16 pivotablyconnected relative to the operating rod 22 via the clevis pin 26. Thehollow cylindrical load sensor 30 is disposed in an annular space formedbetween the sensor attaching hole 202 and the clevis pin 26. Therefore,with the rotating moment such as twist which may be applied to the loaddetecting element 30 suppressed, the whole of the operating pedal device200 can be formed in simple and compact structure. Additionally,relating members such as the operating rod 22 and the clevis 24 whichare the same as those used in the conventional pedal device can be used,so that the operating pedal device 200 can be produced at low cost.

However, even in the thus structured operating pedal device 200, whenthe operating pedal 16 is pivoted around the supporting shaft 14 inaccordance with the depressing operation thereof, the operating rod 22and the operating pedal 16 are also relatively pivoted around the axisof the clevis pin 26. As a result, an acting position of the loadapplied to the deforming member 32, i.e., a deforming direction of thedeforming member 32 varies, so that a detected value may be varied inresponse to variation in the load acting position. Size and a settingposition of the strain detecting element are determined to detect suchdeformation, regardless of variation i.e., shift of the varying positionof the deforming member 32. However, due to continuous movement of thedetecting position in the circumferential direction, there is a problemthat the deforming form of the deforming member 32 is complex and easilyvaries. For this reason, securing a high detecting accuracy may bedifficult depending on the relative positional relationship between theoperating rod 22 and the operating pedal 16.

The present invention has been made in consideration of thesecircumstances. Therefore, an object of the present invention is, in anoperating device that has a load sensor disposed in a pivotal movementconnecting portion and that is capable of detecting an operating forcetransmitted via a connecting pin, to improve the detecting accuracy ofthe load sensor. In the operating device, a shaft-like member and a mainbody member (i.e., an annular member 34 of FIG. 25B) are relativelychanged in the position to each other in the direction perpendicular tothe axis of the shaft-like member, and the load sensor electricallydetects an operating force based on this change.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To achieve the above object, a vehicular operating pedal device with aload sensor according to a first aspect of the present invention iscomprised of (a) an operating pedal movably disposed on a pedal supportfixed to a vehicle and depressed by a driver; (b) a reaction forcemember to which an operating force of the operating pedal is transmittedand on which a reaction force corresponding to the operating force isacted; (c) a link type depressing-force transmitting mechanism placedbetween the operating pedal and the reaction force member and has a pairof members connected through a connecting pin relatively pivotably i.e.to be relatively rotatable, and constituting a pivotal movementconnecting portion transmitting the operating force through theconnecting pin; and (d) a load sensor, disposed in the pivotal movementconnecting portion to receive the load in a predetermined direction forelectrically detecting the operating force, regardless of variation ofthe direction of a reaction force relative to the operating pedal inputfrom the reaction force member in accordance with a depression of theoperating pedal.

A second aspect is, in the vehicular operating pedal device with theload sensor of the first aspect, is comprised of (a) an operating pedalmovably disposed on a pedal support fixed to a vehicle and depressed bya driver; (b) a reaction force member to which an operating force of theoperating pedal is transmitted and on which a reaction forcecorresponding to the operating force is acted; (c) at least one pivotalmovement connecting portion, placed between the operating member and thereaction force member, to connect a pair of members relatively pivotablyi.e. to be relatively rotatable around a connecting pin, and to transmitthe operating force through the connecting pin; and (d) a load sensorelectrically detecting the operating force; wherein (e) the load sensorincludes a shaft-like member, a main body member disposed to berelatively displaced to the shaft-like member in a directionperpendicular to an axis thereof, a deforming member spanned over theshaft-like member and the main body member, and strain detectingelements fixed to the deforming member, the strain detecting elementsdetecting a deformation caused in the deforming member by allowing arelative displacement between the shaft-like member and the main bodymember in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the shaft-likemember based on the reaction force; (f) the load sensor is disposed suchthat one of the shaft-like member and the main body member is fixed toone of the sensor arranging member of the pair of members connectedthrough the connecting pin in the pivotal movement connecting portion;(g) the connecting pin is displaceable relative to the sensor arrangingmember; and (h) an orientation converting mechanism, disposed betweenthe connecting pin and the other of the shaft-like member and the mainbody member, to mechanically change a direction of the operating forceapplied from the connecting pin or the reaction force so that the loadacts on the load sensor in a constant direction.

A third aspect is, in the vehicular operating pedal device with the loadsensor of the second aspect, featured by that the orientation convertingmechanism is at least one pivotal moving link which is disposed on thesensor arranging member pivotably around the supporting pin parallel tothe connecting pin, and to which the connecting pin and the other of theshaft-like member and the main body member of the load sensor areconnected to be pivoted around the supporting pin based on the operatingforce applied from the connecting pin or the reaction force thereto.

A fourth aspect is, in the vehicular operating pedal device with theload sensor of the second aspect, featured by that the orientationconverting mechanism includes (a) a connecting pin guide disposed on thesensor arranging member to regulate a movement path of the connectingpin; and (b) an interlocking member displacing the other of theshaft-like member and the main body member of the load sensor in thepredetermined direction in accordance with a movement of the connectingpin.

A fifth aspect is, in the vehicular operating pedal device with the loadsensor of the fourth aspect, featured by that (a) the connecting pinguide is disposed to move the connecting pin in the predetermineddirection, and (b) the interlocking member is a linearly moving linkconnecting the connecting pin and the other of the shaft-like member andthe main body member of the load sensor.

A sixth aspect is in the vehicular operating pedal device with the loadsensor of the fourth aspect, featured by that (a) the connecting pinguide is disposed to move the connecting pin in the predetermineddirection, and (b) the interlocking member is a sliding member moved inthe predetermined direction together with the connecting pin.

A seventh aspect is, in the vehicular operating pedal device with theload sensor of fourth aspect, featured by that the interlocking memberincludes (a) an intermediate sliding member moved in the constantdirection by an intermediate guide disposed on the sensor arrangingmember, and (b) an interlocking link connecting the intermediate slidingmember and the connecting pin.

A eighth aspect is, in the vehicular operating pedal device with theload sensor of any one of the second to seventh aspects, featured bythat (a) the sensor arranging member is a plate-like member to beconnected to the reaction force member relatively pivotably around theconnecting pin, and provided with a sensor attaching hole passingtherethrough; (b) the load sensor is disposed in the sensor attachinghole such that the main body member is integrally fixed to the sensorattaching hole, and a sensor pin provided on the axis of the shaft-likemember projects from both axial sides of the sensor attaching hole; and(c) the orientation converting mechanism is disposed between both axialends of the sensor pin and the connecting pin.

A ninth aspect is, in the vehicular operating pedal device with the loadsensor of any one of the second to eighth aspects, featured by that (a)the operating pedal is disposed on the pedal support pivotably around asupport axis, and (b) the operating pedal serves as the sensor arrangingmember.

A tenth aspect is, in the vehicular operating pedal device with the loadsensor of any one of the second to eighth aspects, featured by that (a)an intermediate lever, disposed on the pedal support, to be pivotablyconnected to the operating pedal through the connecting link and to beconnected to the reaction force member through the pivotal movementconnecting portion, and (b) the intermediate lever serves as the sensorarranging member.

A eleventh aspect is, in the vehicular operating pedal device with theload sensor of any one of the second to tenth aspects, featured by thatthe deforming member has a hollow cylindrical shape, one axial end andother axial end of which are integrally fixed to the main body memberand the shaft-like member, respectively; and the shaft-like memberdetects a shear strain caused in the deforming member by allowing arelative displacement between the main body member and based on thereaction force.

A twelfth aspect is, in the vehicular operating pedal device with theload sensor of any one of the second to tenth aspects, featured by thatthe deforming member has a hollow cylindrical shape; the main bodymember integrally holds a part of the deforming member around a centerline thereof, and the shaft-like member is inserted into a cylindricalinner part of the deforming member; and the strain detecting elementdetects a tensile strain caused in the deforming member by allowing arelative displacement between the main body member and the shaft-likemember based on the reaction force.

An operating device with a load sensor according to a thirteenth aspectof the present invention is comprised of (a) an operating member movedto be operated; (b) a reaction force member to which an operating forceof the operating member is transmitted and on which a reaction forcecorresponding to the operating force is acted; (c) at least one pivotalmovement connecting portion, placed between the operating member and thereaction force member, to connect a pair of members relatively pivotablyi.e. to be relatively rotatable around a connecting pin, to therebytransmit the operating force through the connecting pin; and (d) a loadsensor electrically detecting the operating force; wherein (e) the loadsensor includes a shaft-like member, a main body member disposed to berelatively displaced to the shaft-like member in a directionperpendicular to an axis thereof, a deforming member spanned over theshaft-like member and the main body member, and strain detectingelements fixed to the deforming member, the strain detecting elementsdetecting a deformation caused in the deforming member by allowing arelative displacement between the shaft-like member and the main bodymember in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the shaft-likemember based on the reaction force; (f) the load sensor is disposed suchthat one of the shaft-like member and the main body member is fixed toone of the sensor arranging member of the pair of members connectedthrough the connecting pin in the pivotal movement connecting portion;(g) the connecting pin is displaceable relative to the sensor arrangingmember; and (h) an orientation converting mechanism, disposed betweenthe connecting pin and the other of the shaft-like member and the mainbody member of the load sensor, to mechanically change a direction ofthe operating force applied from the connecting pin or the reactionforce so that the load acts on the load sensor in a constant direction.

A fourteenth aspect is, in the vehicular operating pedal device with theload sensor of the first aspect, featured by that featured by that (a)an operating pedal movably disposed on a pedal support fixed to avehicle and depressed by a driver; (b) a reaction force member to whichan operating force of the operating pedal is transmitted and on which areaction force corresponding to the operating force is acted; (c) atleast one pivotal movement connecting portion, placed between theoperating member and the reaction force member, to connect a pair ofmembers relatively pivotably i.e. to be relatively rotatable around aconnecting pin to thereby transmit the operating force through theconnecting pin; and (d) a load sensor electrically detecting theoperating; wherein (e) the load sensor includes a shaft-like member, amain body member disposed to be relatively displaced to the shaft-likemember in a direction perpendicular to an axis thereof, a deformingmember spanned over the shaft-like member and the main body member, andstrain detecting elements fixed to the deforming member, the straindetecting elements detecting a deformation caused in the deformingmember by allowing a relative displacement between the shaft-like memberand the main body member in the direction perpendicular to the axis ofthe shaft-like member based on the reaction force; (f) at least onepivotal moving link which is disposed in the pivotal movement connectingportion on one of sensor arranging members of the pair of memberspivotably connected through the connecting pin around a first supportingpin parallel to the connecting pin, and to which the connecting pindisplaceable relative to the sensor arranging member is connectedrelatively pivotably around the first supporting pin by the operatingforce applied from the connecting pin or by the reaction force; (g) aswinging lever disposed on the sensor arranging member swingably arounda second supporting pin parallel to the connecting pin; and (h) one ofthe shaft-like member and the main body member of the load sensor isconnected to the pivotal moving link, and the other of the shaft-likemember and the main body member is connected to the swinging lever.

A fifteenth aspect is, in the vehicular operating pedal device with theload sensor of the fourteenth aspect, featured by that, when viewed froma direction of the axis of the first supporting pin, the secondsupporting pin is disposed such that a straight line connecting an axisof the second supporting pin and an axis of other of the main bodymember and the shaft-like member connected to the swinging lever,intersects with a straight line connecting an axis of the firstsupporting pin and an axis of the one of the main body member and theshaft-like member connected to the swinging lever at substantially rightangle.

A sixteenth aspect is, in the vehicular operating pedal device with theload sensor of the fourteenth or fifteenth aspect, featured by that thesecond supporting pin is disposed at a position where, with the pivotalmoving link pivoted around the first supporting pin in accordance with adepression of the operating pedal, a tensile force is acted on theswinging lever.

A seventeenth aspect is, in the vehicular operating pedal device withthe load sensor of any one of the fourteenth to sixteenth aspects,featured by that (a) the sensor arranging member is a plate-like memberpivotably connected relative to the reaction force member through thepivotal movement connecting portion, and is provided with a sensorattaching hole passing therethrough; (b) the load sensor is disposed inthe sensor housing hole with a predetermined clearance, the main bodymember projects from both axial sides of the sensor housing hole, and asensor pin passing through the axis of the shaft-like member is disposedto project from both axial sides of the main body member; and (c) a pairof the pivotal moving links and a pair of the swinging levers aredisposed at both axial sides of the plate-like sensor arranging member,respectively, and are connected to both axial ends of the main bodymember or the sensor pin, respectively.

A eighteenth aspect is, in the vehicular operating pedal device with theload sensor of any one of the fourteenth to seventeenth aspects,featured by that (a) the operating pedal is disposed on the pedalsupport pivotably around a supporting axis, and (b) the operating pedalserves as the sensor arranging member.

A nineteenth aspect is, in the vehicular operating pedal device with theload sensor of any one of the fourteenth to seventeenth aspects,featured by that (a) an intermediate lever disposed pivotably on thepedal support, connected to the operating pedal through the connectinglink, and connected to the reaction force member through the pivotalmovement connecting portion, and (b) the intermediate lever serves asthe sensor arranging member.

A twentieth aspect is, in the vehicular operating pedal device with theload sensor of any one of the fourteenth to nineteenth aspects, featuredby that the deforming member has a hollow cylindrical shape; one axialend and the other axial end of the cylindrical deforming member areintegrally fixed to the main body member and the shaft-like member,respectively; and the strain detecting elements detect a shear straincaused in the deforming member based on the relative displacementbetween and the main body member and the shaft-like member by thereaction force.

An operating device with a load sensor according to a twenty-firstaspect of the present invention is comprised of (a) an operating memberthat is moved to be operated; (b) a reaction force member to which anoperating force of the operating member is transmitted and on which areaction force corresponding to the operating force is acted; (c) atleast one pivotal movement connecting portion, placed between theoperating member and the reaction force member, to connect a pair ofmembers relatively pivotably around a connecting pin, and to transmitthe operating force through the connecting pin; and (d) a load sensorelectrically detecting the operating force, and including a shaft-likemember, a main body member disposed to be relatively displaced to theshaft-like member in a direction perpendicular to an axis thereof, adeforming member spanned over the shaft-like member and the main bodymember, and strain detecting elements fixed to the deforming member, thestrain detecting elements detecting a deformation caused in thedeforming member by allowing a relative displacement between theshaft-like member and the main body member in the directionperpendicular to the axis of the shaft-like member based on the reactionforce; (e) at least one pivotal moving link which is disposed in thepivotal movement connecting portion on one of sensor arranging membersof the pair of members pivotably connected through the connecting pinaround a first supporting pin parallel to the connecting pin, and towhich the connecting pin displaceable relative to the sensor arrangingmember is connected relatively pivotably i.e. to be relatively rotatablearound the first supporting pin by the operating force applied from theconnecting pin or by the reaction force; (f) a swinging lever disposedon the sensor arranging member swingably around a second supporting pinparallel to the connecting pin; and (g) one of the shaft-like member andthe main body member of the load sensor is connected to the pivotalmoving link, and the other of the shaft-like member and the main bodymember is connected to the swinging lever.

In the vehicular operating pedal device with the load sensor accordingto the first aspect of the present invention, the link typedepressing-force transmitting mechanism is placed between the operatingpedal and the reaction force member, which has the pair of membersrelatively rotatably connected together through the connecting pin andconstituting a pivotal movement connecting portion used to transmit theoperating force through the connecting pin. Additionally, the loadsensor electrically detecting the operating force is disposed on thepivotal movement connecting portion of the link type depressing-forcetransmitting mechanism to receive the load in the predetermineddirection, despite the direction of the reaction force input from thereaction force member in accordance with the depressing operation of theoperating pedal varies with respect to the operating pedal. Therefore, adeformed part of the deforming member is constantly or fixedlymaintained, that is the deforming member deforms at the constant orfixed part. As a result, the detecting accuracy of the operating forceis heightened, and variation in detecting accuracy is prevented, thusthe high reliability being obtained.

In the vehicular operating pedal device with the load sensor accordingto the second aspect of the present invention, the load sensorelectrically detecting the operating force based on the relativedisplacement of the main body member and the shaft-like member isdisposed on the pivotal movement connecting portion of the predeterminedsensor arranging member, and detects the operating force transmittedthrough the connecting pin of the pivotal movement connecting portion.Therefore, the whole device can be constructed simple and compact, forexample, by disposing the load sensor in the sensor attaching holeformed in the sensor arranging member. Additionally, the relatingmembers such as the rod and the clevis used here are the same as thoseof the conventional pedal device, so that the pedal device of thepresent invention can be constructed at low cost.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the connectingpin is displaceable relative to the sensor arranging member, and theorientation converting mechanism is disposed between the connecting pinand the other of the shaft-like member and the main body member of theload sensor. Even if the sensor arranging member is relatively pivotedaround the connecting pin in accordance with the depressing operation ofthe operating pedal, the operating force applied from the connecting pinor the reaction force acts on the load sensor from a predetermineddirection. Therefore, the deformed part of the deforming member isconstantly or fixedly maintained. As a result, the detecting accuracy ofthe operating force is heightened, and variation in detecting accuracyis prevented, thus the high reliability being obtained.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the pivotalmoving link serving as the orientation converting mechanism issufficiently disposed pivotably around the supporting pin, and the otherof the shaft-like member and the main body member of the load sensor andthe connecting pin are sufficiently connected to the pivotal movinglinks, respectively. For this reason, the device can be constructedsimple in structure and low in cost, and can be constructed compact inthe forward and backward directions of the vehicle in which theoperating pedal is depressed.

Likewise, in the fifth and sixth aspects of the present invention, allthat is required are, with the connecting pin guide moving theconnecting pin in the constant direction provided; to connect theconnecting pin and the other of the shaft-like member and the main bodymember of the load sensor by the linearly moving link, or to provide thesliding member moved together with the connecting pin in the constantdirection. Therefore, the device can be constructed simple in structureand low in cost as that in the third aspect of the present invention.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, theintermediate sliding member moved in the constant direction by theintermediate guide and the connecting pin are connected by theinterlocking link. The load is transmitted from the intermediate slidingmember to the other of the shaft-like member and the main body member ofthe load sensor directly, or indirectly via the linearly moving link orthe sliding member, etc. Therefore, the design freedom increases in theconnecting position of the connecting pin or the disposing position ofthe load sensor.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the load sensoris disposed in the member pivotably connected relative to the reactionforce member around the connecting pin serves as the sensor arrangingmember. Therefore, the load sensor detects the final operating force(output) transmitted from the connecting pin to the reaction forcemember. For example, the braking force generated when the hydraulicbrake or the like is mechanically operated through the reaction forcemember can be detected with high accuracy. Additionally, the main bodymember is integrally fixed to the sensor attaching hole formed in thesensor arranging member, and the orientation converting mechanism isdisposed between the connecting pin and both axial ends of the sensorpin being disposed on the axis of the shaft-like member and projectingfrom both axial sides of the sensor attaching hole. Therefore, thedevice can be constructed simple and compact. In addition, with the load(reaction force) of the connecting pin substantially evenly applied tothe shaft-like member of the load sensor, the detecting accuracy isfurther heightened.

The operating device with the load sensor according to the thirteenthaspect of the present invention is not limited to a vehicular operatingpedal device, but can be applied to various operating devices such asoperating pedal devices or manual operation devices other than thevehicular operating pedal device. However, owing to similarity of thestructure or the arrangement of the load sensor or the orientationconverting mechanism to that of the vehicular operating pedal deviceaccording to the first aspect of the present invention, substantiallythe same operation and effect as that in the first aspect of the presentinvention can be obtained. In other words, the first aspect of thepresent invention can be regarded as one embodiment according to thethirteenth aspect of the present invention. The operating pedalcorresponds to the claimed operating member.

In the vehicular operating pedal device with the load sensor accordingto the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the load sensorelectrically detecting the operating force based on the relativedisplacement between the main body member and the shaft-like member, isdisposed at the pivotal movement connecting portion of the predeterminedsensor arranging member. The operating force transmitted through theconnecting pin of the pivotal movement connecting portion is detected.Therefore, the whole device can be constructed simple and compact, forexample, by disposing the load sensor in the sensor housing hole formedin the sensor arranging member. Additionally, the relating members suchas the rod and the clevis used here are the same as those of theconventional pedal device, so that the pedal device of the presentinvention can be constructed at low cost.

According to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the pivotalmoving link is disposed on the sensor arranging member pivotably aroundthe first supporting pin, to which the connecting pin is connectedrelatively pivotably. With the swinging lever disposed swingably aroundthe second supporting pin, one of the shaft-like member and the mainbody member of the load sensor is connected to the pivotal moving link,whereas the other of the shaft-like member and the main body member isconnected to the swinging lever.

For this reason, even if the sensor arranging member is relativelypivoted around the connecting pin in accordance with the depressingoperation of the operating pedal, the reaction force applied from theconnecting pin to the load sensor through the pivotal moving link or theoperating force applied from the second connecting to the load sensorthrough the swinging lever is acted on the substantially constant orfixed direction. Thus, the deformed part of the deforming member isconstantly or fixedly maintained. As a result, the detecting accuracy ofthe operating force is heightened, and variation in detecting accuracyis prevented, thus the high reliability being obtained.

Connecting the other of the shaft-like member and the main body memberto the swinging lever can absorb dimensional errors or assembling errorsof these members to ease the desired dimensional precision. Thus, thedevice can be constructed at lower cost, compared with the case in whichthe elements are integrally fixed to the sensor arranging member.

According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, when viewedfrom a direction of the axis of the first supporting pin, the secondsupporting pin is disposed such that a straight line connecting an axisof the second supporting pin and an axis of one of the main body memberand the shaft-like member connected to the swinging lever, intersectswith a straight line connecting an axis of the second supporting pin andan axis of the other of the main body member and the shaft-like memberconnected to the swinging lever at substantially right angle. In otherwords, the second supporting pin is disposed on or near the acting lineof the load (reaction force) applied from the connecting pin to the loadsensor through the pivotal moving link. Therefore, with the efficientreceipt of the load by the second supporting pin, the device can beconstructed simple, compact, and low in cost.

According to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, the secondsupporting pin is disposed at a position where, with the pivotal movinglink pivoted around the first supporting pin in accordance with adepression of the operating pedal, a tensile force acts on the swinginglever. Therefore, there is no fear of an excessive load acting on theswinging lever or the second supporting pin, so that the device can beconstructed simple, compact, and low in cost. In other words, if thesecond supporting pin is disposed such that the compressive load acts onthe swinging lever, an excessive load may act on the swinging lever oron the second supporting pin by a servo action of, for example, a togglelink mechanism, depending on the positional relationship of the secondpin with the pivotal moving link.

According to the seventeenth aspect of the present invention, the loadsensor is disposed in the member serving as the sensor arranging memberwhich is pivotably connected relative to the reaction force memberthrough the pivotal movement connecting portion. Therefore, the loadsensor can detects the final operating force (output) transmitted fromthe connecting pin to the reaction force member. For example, thebraking force generated when the hydraulic brake or the like ismechanically operated through the reaction force member can be detectedwith high accuracy. The load sensor is disposed in the sensor housinghole formed in the sensor arranging member with the predeterminedclearance. The pair of pivotal moving links and the pair of swinginglevers are disposed at both axial sides of the plate-like sensorarranging member, respectively, and are connected to both axial ends ofthe main body member or axial both axial ends of the sensor pin isinserted along the axis of the shaft-like member, respectively.Therefore, not only the device can be constructed compact, but therotating moment such as twist is prevented. Thus, the load sensoroperates stably, thus further heighten the detecting accuracy.

The operating device with the load sensor according to the twenty-firstaspect of the present invention is not limited to the vehicularoperating pedal device, but can be applied to various operating devicessuch as operating pedal devices or manual operation devices other thanthe vehicular operating pedal device. However, owing to similarity ofthe structure of the load sensor or the arrangement using the pivotalmoving link and the swinging lever to that of the vehicular operatingpedal device according to the fourteenth aspect of the presentinvention, substantially the same operation and effect as that in thefirst aspect of the present invention can be obtained. The fourteenthaspect of the present invention can be regarded as one embodimentaccording to the twenty-first aspect of the present invention. Theoperating pedal corresponds to the claimed operating member.

The present invention is advantageously applied to a brake pedal devicefor a service brake, but it can also be applied to an operating pedaldevice for an accelerator or for a parking brake. The thirteenth andtwenty-first aspects of the present invention can be applied to thevarious operating devices such as operating pedal devices other than avehicle or manual operation devices. The reaction force member is, forexample, an operating rod of a brake booster or a push rod of a brakemaster cylinder, and is structured to mechanically operate a wheel brakeor the like. However, the present invention can also be applied to anelectric (by-wire type) operation braking device that electricallycontrols a wheel brake or a driving unit in accordance with an operatingforce detected by a load sensor. In this case, a stroke simulator or areaction force mechanism can be connected to the reaction force memberto apply a predetermined reaction force thereto.

For example, a connecting part connecting the operating pedal and thereaction force member and a connecting part connecting the intermediatelever and the reaction force member are suitable as the pivotal movementconnecting portion on which the load sensor is disposed. However, if aconnecting link connecting the operating pedal and the intermediatelever is provided, a connecting part between the connecting link and theoperating pedal or a connecting part between the connecting link and theintermediate lever may be used. The disposing position of the loadsensor is appropriately selected.

Although the load sensors according to the eleventh, twelfth andtwentieth aspects of the present invention include the hollowcylindrical deforming member, the shape of the deforming member can beappropriately selected when the present invention is embodied accordingto other aspects. For example, the deforming member may be formed in anelliptical shape in which at least a deformed part based on the relativedisplacement of the shaft-like member and the main body member iscircularly arced. The load sensor is disposed such that the circularlyarced part undergoes extensional deformation or flexural deformationwhen a tensile load or a compressive load is applied onto both ends ofthe circularly arced part. Additionally, a deforming member can be used,which assumes a doughnut shape corresponding to an annular space betweenthe shaft-like member and the main body member and undergoes tensiledeformation, compressional deformation, or flexural deformation based onthe relative displacement between the shaft-like member and the mainbody member. Since the load (the operating force or the reaction force)is applied in the constant or fixed direction around the axis of theload sensor in the present invention, the direction of the relativedisplacement between the shaft-like member and the main body member isconstant. Thus, the deforming members having various forms deformed bythe relative displacement thereof can be employed.

The load sensor electrically detects a strain of the deforming memberundergoing an elastic deformation by use of the strain detectingelement, and converts this strain into the load, i.e., the operatingforce according to a predetermined map or operational equation. Althoughthin-film or thick-film semiconductor strain gauges or generally-usedstrain gauges are used as desirable examples of the strain resistiveelements, piezoelectric elements or piezoelectric-crystal elements canalso be used.

Preferably, in the load sensor, for example, the main body member isintegrally fixed to the inside of the sensor attaching hole formed topass through i.e., penetrate the plate-like sensor arranging member, theshaft-like member or the sensor pin provided on the axis thereof isdisposed to project from both axial sides of the sensor attaching hole,and the orientation converting mechanism is disposed between theconnecting pin and both axial ends of the shaft-like member or bothaxial ends of the sensor pin. However, other various modes can beemployed. For example, the load sensor may be disposed on one sidesurface of the sensor arranging member, or the shaft-like member may befixed to the sensor arranging member and the orientation convertingmechanism may be disposed between the main body member and theconnecting pin. There is a case where the sensor arranging member iscomposed of a pair of parallel plate-like members spaced by apredetermined distance and integrally connected together. In this case,following structure can be employed. For example, with the load sensordisposed between the pair of plate-like members, both axial ends of theshaft-like member are fixed to the plate-like member (the sensorarranging member), and the orientation converting mechanism is disposedbetween the main body member and the connecting pin.

For example, the pivotal moving link according to the third aspect ofthe present invention is disposed on the sensor arranging memberpivotably around the supporting pin in its intermediate position, andthe other member of the load sensor and the connecting pin arerelatively pivotably connected thereto at both axial sides withintervening the supporting pin therebetween. However, the other memberof the load sensor may be connected between the supporting pin and theconnecting pin, or the connecting pin may be connected between the othermember of the load sensor and the supporting pin. If the distancetherebetween (the lever ratio) is properly set, the amplified orattenuated operating force can be detected.

For example, the connecting pin guide according to the fourth aspect ofthe present invention is constructed to pass through the sensorarranging member for allowing insertion of the connecting pin, and itcan be comprised of an elongate hole linearly extended in apredetermined direction perpendicular to the center line of the loadsensor. However, a guide rail or a guide rod which guides a slidingmember in a predetermined direction may be used, to which the connectingpin is relatively rotatably connected.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, both axial endsof the sensor pin disposed on the axis of the shaft-like member projectfrom the sensor attaching hole. For example, the sensor pin isconstructed as an independent element i.e., a separated element, isallowed to pass through the through-hole formed in the shaft-likemember. However, other various forms can be employed. For example, bothaxial ends of the shaft-like member functioning as the sensor pinproject from the sensor attaching hole, and the solid cylindrical pinportions are projected on both end surfaces of the shaft-like memberintegrally therewith, respectively. If the sensor pin is constructed asthe member independent from the shaft-like member, it may be disposedpivotably relative to the shaft-like member, or, alternatively, may befixed integrally therewith.

For example, the load sensors according to the fourteenth totwenty-first aspects of the present invention are preferably disposed inthe sensor housing hole formed in the plate-like sensor arranging memberto pass therethrough with a clearance. However, the load sensor can bedisposed on one side face of the sensor arranging member. Besides, othervarious modes can be employed. For example, if the sensor arrangingmember is composed of a pair of parallel plate-like members spaced by apredetermined distance and are integrally connected together, the loadsensor may be disposed between the pair of plate-like members.

For example, the pivotal moving links according to the fourteenth totwenty-first aspects of the present invention are disposed on the sensorarranging member pivotably around the first supporting pin in itsintermediate position, and one member of the load sensor and theconnecting pin are relatively pivotably connected thereto at both sideswith intervening the first supporting pin therebetween. However, the onemember of the load sensor may be connected between the first supportingpin and the connecting pin, and the connecting pin may be connectedbetween the one member of the load sensor and the first supporting pin.If the distance therebetween (the lever ratio) is properly set, theamplified or attenuated operating force can be detected.

The shaft-like member and the main body member of the load sensoraccording to the fourteenth to twenty-first aspects of the presentinvention are connected to one and other of the pivotal moving link andthe swinging lever. However, other various modes can be employed. Forexample, the main body member may be integrally fixed to the pivotalmoving link, and the shaft-like member may be connected to the swinginglever pivotably around the axis thereof. Alternatively, the main bodymember may be integrally fixed to the swinging lever, and the shaft-likemember may be connected to the pivotal moving link rotatably around theaxis thereof. The main body member may be disposed on the pivotal movinglink pivotably around the axis thereof, and the shaft-like member may beintegrally fixed to the swinging lever. Preferably, to absorbdimensional errors or assembling errors of the members or portions, oneof them is preferably connected pivotably around the axis.

For example, according to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention,when viewed from a direction of the axis of the first supporting pin,the second supporting pin is disposed such that a straight lineconnecting an axis of the second supporting pin and an axis of one ofthe main body member and the shaft-like member connected to the swinginglever, intersects with a straight line connecting an axis of the secondsupporting pin and an axis of the other of the main body member and theshaft-like member connected to the swinging lever at substantially rightangle. However, the disposing position of the second pin can beappropriately selected when the present invention is embodied accordingto the other aspects. When embodying the present invention according tothe fifteenth aspect, the straight lines are not necessarily required tointersect at exactly right angle with each other. As long as thesestraight lines intersect with each other in the range of ±20 degreeswith respect to right angle i.e., in the range from 70 degrees to 110degrees, a sufficient effect can be obtained.

Although the second supporting pin is disposed at the position where thetensile force acts on the swinging lever according to the sixteenthaspect of the present invention, it can be disposed at a position wherea pressing force acts on the swinging lever when the present inventionis embodied according to the other aspects. In such a case, there is apossibility of an excessive load acting on the swinging lever and thesecond supporting pin in the same way as that in a toggle linkmechanism. In view of this, preferably, the second supporting pin isdisposed such that a straight line connecting the second supporting pinand one of the main body member and the shaft-like member connected tothe swinging lever, intersects at substantially right angle with astraight line connecting the first supporting pin and the other of themain body member and the shaft-like member connected to the pivotalmoving link, as that in the fifteenth aspect.

According to the seventeenth aspect of the present invention, both axialends of the sensor pin disposed on the axis of the shaft-like memberproject from the main body member. For example, the sensor pin isconstructed as an independent element i.e., a separated element, and isallowed to pass through the through-hole formed in the shaft-likemember. However, other various forms can be employed. For example, bothaxial ends of the shaft-like member functioning as the sensor pinproject from the main body member, and solid cylindrical pin portionsare projected on both axial end surfaces of the shaft-like memberintegrally therewith, respectively. If the sensor pin is constructed asan element independent from the shaft-like member, it may be disposedpivotably relative to the shaft-like member, or, alternatively, may beformed integrally therewith.

According to the twentieth aspect of the present invention, thedeforming member having a hollow cylindrical shape is integrally fixedto the main body member and the shaft-like member at one axial end andother axial end thereof, respectively, and undergoes the sheardeformation in accordance with the relative displacement thereof.However, with a part of the cylindrical deforming member around thecenter line integrally fixed to the main body member, the shaft-likemember may be disposed to pass through the inner cylindrical part of thedeforming member. A tensile strain caused in the deforming memberresulting from the relative displacement between the main body memberand the shaft-like member based on the reaction force may be detected bythe strain detecting element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a set of views showing one example of a vehicular operatingpedal device for a service brake to which the present invention isapplied, of which FIG. 1A is a front view, and FIG. 1B is an enlargedcross-sectional view along line IA-IA of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2 is a set of views showing a load sensor according to theembodiment of FIG. 1, of which FIG. 2A is a longitudinal sectional viewparallel to the center line O, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional viewalong line IIA-IIA of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3 is a set of views showing a state in which with depression of anoperating pedal with a foot from the state of FIGS. 2A and 2B, adeforming member undergoes a shear strain by the reaction force of anoperating rod, of which FIG. 3A is a longitudinal sectional viewparallel to the center line O, and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional viewalong line IIIA-IIIA of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the deforming member ofFIG. 3A, FIG. 4B is a plan view seen from above in FIG. 4A, and FIG. 4Cis a development view of the deforming member, explaining a strainresistive element disposed on an outer circumferential surface thereof.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing a bridge circuit formed byconnecting the strain resistive element shown in FIG. 4C by anelectro-conductive circuit pattern.

FIG. 6, corresponding to FIG. 1A, is a front view, showing anotherembodiment in which the present invention is applied to a vehicularoperating pedal device including an intermediate lever and a load sensorand an orientation converting mechanism shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B aredisposed at a pivotal movement connecting portion between theintermediate lever and the operating rod.

FIG. 7 is a set of views showing still another embodiment, of which FIG.7A is a front view corresponding to FIG. 1A, and FIG. 7B is an enlargedcross-sectional view along line VIIA-VIIA of FIG. 7A.

FIG. 8, corresponding to FIG. 7A, is a front view showing still anotherembodiment in which the present invention is applied to a vehicularoperating pedal device including an intermediate lever, and the loadsensor and the orientation converting mechanism shown in FIG. 7 aredisposed at the pivotal movement connecting portion between theintermediate lever and the operating rod.

FIG. 9 is a set of views showing still another embodiment, of which FIG.9A is a front view corresponding to FIG. 1A, and FIG. 9B is an enlargedcross-sectional view along line IXA-IXA of FIG. 9A.

FIG. 10, corresponding to FIG. 9A, is a front view showing still anotherembodiment in which the present invention is applied to a vehicularoperating pedal device including an intermediate lever, and the loadsensor and the orientation converting mechanism shown in FIGS. 9A and 9Bare disposed at a pivotal movement connecting portion between theintermediate lever and the operating rod.

FIG. 11 is a set of views showing still another embodiment, of whichFIG. 11A is a front view corresponding to FIG. 1A, and FIG. 11B is anenlarged cross-sectional view along line XIA-XIA of FIG. 11A.

FIG. 12, corresponding to FIG. 11A, is a front view showing stillanother embodiment in which the present invention is applied to avehicular operating pedal device including an intermediate lever, andthe load sensor and the orientation converting mechanism shown in FIGS.11A and 11B are disposed at a pivotal movement connecting portionbetween the intermediate lever and the operating rod.

FIG. 13 is a set of views showing still another embodiment in which thepresent invention is applied to a vehicular operating pedal deviceincluding an intermediate lever, and the load sensor and the orientationconverting mechanism shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B are disposed at a pivotalmovement connecting portion between the intermediate lever and theconnecting link. FIG. 13A is a front view corresponding to FIG. 1A, andFIG. 13B is an enlarged cross-sectional view along line XIIIA-XIIIA ofFIG. 13A.

FIG. 14 is a set of views, corresponding to FIG. 2, explaining anotherexample of the load sensor, of which FIG. 14A is a longitudinalsectional view parallel to the center line O, and FIG. 14B is across-sectional view along line XIVA-XIVA of FIG. 14A.

FIG. 15 is a set of views showing a state with depression of theoperating pedal by a foot from the state of FIG. 14, the deformingmember is stretched and deformed into an oval by the reaction force ofthe operating rod. FIG. 15A is a longitudinal sectional view parallel tothe center line O, and FIG. 15B is a cross-sectional view along lineXVA-XVA of FIG. 15A.

FIG. 16 is a set of views showing an example of a vehicular operatingpedal device for a service brake according to still another embodimentof the present invention. FIG. 16A is a front view, and FIG. 16B is anenlarged cross-sectional view along line XVIA-XVIA of FIG. 16A.

FIG. 17 is a set of views showing the load sensor of the embodimentshown in FIGS. 16A and 16B, of which FIG. 17A is a longitudinalsectional view parallel to the center line O, and FIG. 17B is across-sectional view along line XVIIA-XVIIA of FIG. 17A.

FIG. 18 is a set of views showing a state with depression of theoperating pedal by a foot from the state of FIG. 17, the deformingmember is subjected to shear strain by the reaction force of theoperating rod. FIG. 18A is a longitudinal sectional view parallel to thecenter line O, and FIG. 18B is a cross-sectional view along lineXVIIIA-XVIIIA of FIG. 18A.

FIG. 19A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the deforming member ofFIG. 18A, FIG. 19B is a plan view seen from above in FIG. 19A, and FIG.19C is a development view of the deforming member, explaining a strainresistive element disposed on the outer circumferential surface thereof.

FIG. 20 is a circuit diagram showing a bridge circuit formed byconnecting the strain resistive element shown in FIG. 19C by anelectro-conductive circuit pattern.

FIG. 21 is a front view, corresponding to FIG. 16A, showing anotherembodiment with no the intermediate lever being provided.

FIG. 22 is a set of views showing still another embodiment in which aload sensor is disposed at a pivotal movement connecting portion betweenan intermediate lever and a connecting link. FIG. 22A is a front viewcorresponding to FIG. 16A, and FIG. 22B is an enlarged cross-sectionalview along line XXIIA-XXIIA of FIG. 22A.

FIG. 23 is a set of views, correspond to FIG. 17, explaining anotherexample of the load sensor, of which FIG. 23A is a longitudinalsectional view parallel to the center line O, and FIG. 23B is across-sectional view along line XXIIIA-XXIIIA of FIG. 23A.

FIG. 24 is a set of views showing a state with depression of theoperating pedal from the state of FIGS. 23A and 23B, the deformingmember is stretched and deformed into an oval by the reaction force ofthe operating rod. FIG. 24A is a longitudinal sectional view parallel tothe center line O, and FIG. 24B is a cross-sectional view along lineXXIVA-XXIVA of FIG. 24A.

FIG. 25 is a set of views explaining the background art of the presentinvention. FIG. 25A is a front view of a vehicular operating pedaldevice with a load sensor having the same structure as that of FIG. 1,and FIG. 25B is an enlarged cross-sectional view along line XXVA-XXVA ofFIG. 25A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention will be hereinafter described indetail with reference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 1 is a set of views showing a vehicular operating pedal device 10for a service brake, which is an embodiment of the present invention, ofwhich FIG. 1A is a front view thereof, and FIG. 1B is an enlargedcross-sectional view along line IA-IA of FIG. 1A. This vehicularoperating pedal device 10 is constructed by applying the presentinvention to the above-mentioned operating pedal device 200 of FIG. 25,and includes an orientation converting mechanism 60 disposed between aload sensor 30 and a clevis pin 26 disposed on the operating pedal 16.In the operating pedal 16, a sensor attaching hole 28 is formed to bespaced by a predetermined distance from the clevis pin 26 toward a pad18. The load sensor 30 is integrally fixed to the operating pedal 16 byuse of an annular member 34 inserted into sensor attaching hole 28 and afixing bolt 62, to thereby assume a predetermined posture (phase).

A sensor pin 64 is passing through a through-hole 38 of a shaft-likemember 36 disposed in a hole of the annular member 34, has both axialends that are projected laterally from the annular member 34 and theoperating pedal 16, respectively, and that are connected to the clevispin 26 via the orientation converting mechanism 60. In this embodiment,the sensor pin 64 is provided as an element constructionally independentof the shaft-like member 36, and is inserted into the through-hole 38relatively rotatable thereto. However, the sensor pin 64 may be formedintegrally with the shaft-like member 36. A wire harness 56 having itsend provided with a connector 58, is connected to a control circuit unitof a vehicle via the connector 58. The annular member 34 corresponds toa claimed main body member, and the clevis pin 26 corresponds to aclaimed connecting pin of the pivotal movement connecting portion 20.

The orientation converting mechanism 60 mechanically changes a directionof the reaction force applied from the clevis pin 26 so that the loadcan act from a predetermined direction around the center line O of theload sensor 30. The orientation converting mechanism 60 includes a pairof pivotal moving links 68 disposed on the operating pedal 16 pivotablyaround a supporting pin 66 parallel to the clevis pin 26. The supportingpin 66 is disposed on the operating pedal 16 via a bearing to berelatively pivoted around the axis thereof, and has both axial endsprojected laterally from the operating pedal 16.

The pair of pivotal moving links 68 both having the same shape and beingsymmetrically disposed on both sides of the operating pedal 16, arepivotably disposed at both axial ends of the supporting pin 66,respectively. The pair of pivotal moving links 68 are supported by thesupporting pin 66 at their longitudinally intermediate positions. Onelongitudinal end of each of the pivotal moving links 68 is connected tothe clevis pin 26 to be pivoted relative thereto, whereas otherlongitudinal end is connected to the sensor pin 64 to be pivotedrelative thereto. The pair of pivotal moving links 68 are integrallyfixed to a bush 70 disposed around the clevis pin 26, and are connectedmutually via the bush 70.

In a plan view seen from the axial direction of the supporting pin 66,i.e., in the state of FIG. 1A, a connected position between the pivotalmoving link 68 and the clevis pin 26 is set so that a line segmentconnecting these two elements intersects at substantially right anglewith the center line of the operating rod 22 serving as the claimedreaction force member. The reason is that the reaction force is actedfrom a direction substantially perpendicular to the line segmentconnecting the supporting pin 66 and the clevis pin 26. The clevis pin26 is inserted into a clearance hole 72 formed in the operating pedal 16together with the bush 70, and has both axial ends projected outwardlyfrom the bush 70 to be connected to the clevis 24 to be pivotablerelative thereto. The reason is that the pivotal movement of the pivotalmoving link 68 necessary to detect the operating force is allowed basedon the deformation of the deforming member 32 of the load sensor 30.Here, the clearance hole 72 is formed in a circular arc shape centeringon the supporting pin 66 or in a linear shape, but a notch extending toan end of the operating pedal 16 may be provided as an example insteadof the clearance hole 72.

With this structure, the reaction force is transmitted from the clevispin 26 to the sensor pin 64 through the pivotal moving link 68. Even ifthe operating rod 22 and the operating pedal 16 are relatively pivotedaround the axis of the clevis pin 26 in accordance with the depressingoperation of the operating pedal 16, the load always acts from thepredetermined direction on the shaft-like member 36 of the load sensor30, maintaining a deformed part of the deforming member 32 substantiallyconstant, that is the deforming member 32 deforms at the constant i.e.,fixed part. The “predetermined direction” denotes a directionsubstantially perpendicular to a line segment connecting the sensor pin64 and the supporting pin 66 in a plan view seen from the axialdirection of the sensor pin 64 (i.e., in the state of FIG. 1A).

FIG. 2A is a sectional view of the load sensor 30 in a directionperpendicular to the line segment connecting the sensor pin 64 and thesupporting pin 66 in the plan view (i.e., in the state of FIG. 1A), andFIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view along line IIA-IIA of FIG. 2A. In FIG.2, the sensor pin 64 is pivotable relative to both the shaft-like member36 and the pivotal moving link 68. When the deforming member 32 deformsas shown in FIG. 3 by depressing the operating pedal 16, a member havingless friction, e.g., the pivotal moving link 68 is relatively pivoted,though the pivotal movement angle is extremely small. To reducefriction, a bearing or the like can be provided if necessary. FIG. 3Aand FIG. 3B correspond to FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, respectively, and FIG. 3Bis a cross-sectional view along line IIIA-IIIA of FIG. 3A.

The annular member 34 and the shaft-like member 36 are connectedmutually via the deforming member 32 in this way. When the loadexternally applied in the radial direction, i.e., in a directionperpendicular to the center line O is approximately zero, the axis S ofthe shaft-like member 36 or that of the sensor pin 64 is kept in a stateof substantially coinciding with the center line O of the load sensor 30as shown in FIG. 2. The deforming member 32 is also kept in acylindrical shape centering on the center line O over the entire lengththereof. The center line O of the load sensor 30 is the center line ofthe annular member 34 integrally fixed to the operating pedal 16.

On the other hand, when the reaction force of the operating rod 22 actson the sensor pin 64 via the orientation converting mechanism 60 inaccordance with the depressing operation of the operating pedal 16, aload in the radial direction, more specifically, the load whichrelatively moves the shaft-like member 36 leftward in FIG. 2(substantially leftward also in FIG. 1A) is acted between the annularmember 34 and the shaft-like member 36. As a result, the deformingmember 32 disposed therebetween undergoes shear deformation as shown inFIG. 3. An annular space is provided between the annular member 34 andthe shaft-like member 36 to allow the relative movement therebetween inthe radial direction, or a shear deformation of the deforming member 32.

The deforming member 32 is made of a metallic material such as ferriticstainless steel to be elastically deformed by receiving the load in theradial direction, and it can undergo shear strain according to anoperating force generated by the depressing operation of the operatingpedal 16. Actual deforming amount the deforming member 32 is extremelysmall, not influencing on a depressing stroke of the operating pedal.However, for an easy understanding, the amount of deformation thereof isexaggerated in the drawing. The same applies to the other similardrawings.

For detecting the shear strain of the deforming member 32, as shown inFIG. 4, four strain resistive elements 40 a to 40 d are attached on theouter peripheral surface of the deformation member 32 as the claimedstrain detecting elements. Advantageous examples of the strain resistiveelements 40 a to 40 d can be provided by thin-film and thick-film typesemiconductor strain gages, a normal strain gage and the like. FIG. 4Ais a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 3, and shows the statewhere the deforming member 32 is shear-deformed. FIG. 4B is a plan viewof the deforming member 32 as viewed from the top side in FIG. 4A. FIG.4C is a developed view of the outer peripheral surface of the deformingmember 32. The four strain resistive elements 40 a to 40 d are arrangedat two locations that are symmetric with respect to the center line O(S), in a direction in which the deforming member 32 will be subjectedto the shear strain by the external load. Two of the strain resistiveelements are arranged at each of the two locations to be spaced awayfrom each other in the axial direction. At each of the two locations,the two strain resistive elements are arranged at parts that will bedeformed to be stretched or compressed by the shear strain.

In this embodiment, the acting direction of the load applied to the loadsensor 30 by the orientation converting mechanism 60 is maintainedsubstantially constant. That is, the acting direction of the load ismaintained constant in the right-and-left direction in FIGS. 1A, 2A, 2B,3A, 3B, 4A and 4B. For this reason, the strain resistive elements 40 ato 40 d are not required to be particularly large. However, in view ofthe assembling working of the deforming member 32 and the like, each ofthe strain resistive elements 40 a to 40 d has length that covers anangle range of approximately 90° in the circumferential direction of thedeforming member 32.

The strain resistive elements 40 a to 40 d are connected by a conductivecircuit pattern 50 (see FIG. 4C) to form a bridge circuit shown in FIG.5. A power supply E is connected between a power supply terminal 42 ofthe conductive circuit pattern 50, and the GND (grounding) terminal 44to provide an electrical signal in accordance with the strain between apair of output terminals 46 and 48. For connecting the power supply E tothe power supply terminal 42 or for taking out the electrical signalprovided from the output terminals 46 and 48, a wire harness 56 (see toFIG. 1) connected to the terminals extends from the load sensor 30 to beconnected to a vehicle control circuit portion via a connector 58.

An insulating film 52 (see. FIG. 4C) such as glass paste is previouslyformed on the outer peripheral surface of the deforming member 32, onwhich the conductive circuit pattern 50 made of a conductive materialsuch as silver is formed. The strain resistive elements 40 a to 40 d areintegrally formed by firing or burning or the like to be in partialcontact with the conductive circuit pattern 50. Note that a controlcircuit portion may be disposed inside the load sensor 30. Differentfrom the full bridge circuit used in this embodiment, a half bridgecircuit can be used, for example, when using deforming member which hasa partial arc shape only in a part receiving the load of the operationforce of the operation pedal 16.

In the thus structured vehicular operating pedal device 10, the loadsensor 30 electrically detecting the operating force based on therelative displacement between the annular member 34 and the shaft-likemember 36 is disposed at the pivotal movement connecting portion 20connecting the operating pedal 16 and the operating rod 22 to berelatively pivotable. The load sensor 30 detects the operating forcetransmitted through the clevis pin 26. Disposing the load sensor 30within the sensor attaching hole 28 formed in the operating pedal 16 canmake the whole operating pedal device 10 simple and compact, and doesnot influence on the installing conditions of conventional pedaldevices. Additionally, using the relating members such as the operatingrod 22, the clevis 24 and the clevis pin 26 which are the same as thatin the conventional art, can achieve to production of the pedal deviceaccording to this embodiment at low cost.

On the other hand, the clevis pin 26 is inserted into the clearance hole72, can displace relative to the operating pedal 16 in the longitudinaldirection thereof. The orientation converting mechanism 60 is disposedbetween the clevis pin 26 and the sensor pin 64 of the load sensor 30.Accordingly, even if the operating pedal 16 and the operating rod 22 arerelatively pivoted around the axis of the clevis pin 26 in accordancewith the depressing operation of the operating pedal 16, the reactionforce is always applied from the clevis pin 26 to the load sensor 30 inthe substantially constant direction (i.e., substantially leftwardly inFIG. 1A). Owing to the constantly maintained deformed part of thedeforming member 32, the detecting accuracy of the operating force isheightened, and variation in detecting accuracy is prevented, thus thehigh reliability being obtained.

In this embodiment, the pivotal moving link 68 serving the orientationconverting mechanism 60 is sufficiently disposed around the axis of thesupporting pin 66 to be pivotable. The sensor pin 64 of the load sensor30 and the clevis pin 26 are sufficiently connected to both longitudinalends of the pivotal moving link 68 to be relatively pivotable.Therefore, the device can be simply structured at low cost.Additionally, the device can be constructed compact in the forward andbackward direction of the vehicle, which is a direction corresponding tothe depressing direction of the operating pedal 16, or a pushingdirection of the operating rod 22. By properly setting a lever ratio ofthe pivotal moving link 68, i.e., a ratio between length from thesupporting pin 66 to the sensor pin 64 and length from the supportingpin 66 to the clevis pin 26, the operating force (reaction force)amplified or attenuated by the pivotal moving link 68 can be detected.

In this embodiment, the operating pedal 16 connected pivotably aroundthe axis of the clevis pin 26 relative to the operating rod 22, isprovided as the claimed sensor arranging member to dispose the loadsensor 30 therein. Therefore, by detecting the final operating force(output) transmitted from the clevis pin 26 to the operating rod 22 bythe load sensor 30, a braking force generated according to the output ofthe operating rod 22 can be detected with high accuracy.

The annular member 34 is fixed integrally in the sensor attaching hole28 formed in the operating pedal 16. Additionally, one and other of thepaired pivotal moving links 68 is respectively spanned between one andother of the both axial ends of the sensor pin 64 disposed on the axis Sof the shaft-like member 36 and projecting from both sides of the sensorattaching hole 28, and one and other of the both axial ends of theclevis pin 26 inserted into the clearance hole 72 and projecting fromboth sides of the operating pedal 16. Therefore, the vehicular operatingpedal device 10 can be constructed simple and compact. Additionally,owing to the substantially evenly applied load (reaction force) from theclevis pin 26 to the shaft-like member 36 of the load sensor 30, and thepivotal movement such as twist is prevented from acting on the loadsensor 30, thus further heightening the detecting accuracy by the loadsensor 30.

Next, other embodiments of the present invention will be described. Inthe following embodiments, the same reference numerals are given toelements substantially common in the embodiment, and a detaileddescriptions thereof are omitted.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment in which a vehicular operating pedal device80 includes an intermediate lever 82 transmitting an operating forcefrom the operating pedal 16 to the operating rod 22. The intermediatelever 82 is pivotably disposed on the pedal support 12 by a supportingpin 84 parallel to the support shaft 14, and is connected to theoperating pedal 16 through a connecting link 86. Therefore, theintermediate lever 82 is mechanically pivoted around the supporting pin84 in accordance with the depressing operation of the operating pedal16. The connecting link 86 has both longitudinal ends respectivelyconnected to the operating pedal 16 and to the intermediate lever 82through a pair of linking pins 88 and 90 both parallel to the supportshaft 14, to be pivotable relative thereto.

The operating rod 22 is connected to one longitudinal end i.e., top endof the intermediate lever 82 through a pivotal movement connectingportion 92. This pivotal movement connecting portion 92 has the samestructure as the pivotal movement connecting portion 20. In more detail,the load sensor 30 is disposed in the sensor attaching hole formed inthe intermediate lever 82, and the sensor pin 64 of the load sensor 30is connected to the clevis pin 26 through the orientation convertingmechanism 60. The clevis pin 26 corresponds to a claimed connecting pinof the pivotal movement connecting portion 92.

Therefore, this embodiment can render the same operation and effect asthat in the above-mentioned embodiment. The cross-section along lineVI-VI of FIG. 6 has a structure in which the operating pedal 16 in FIG.1B is replaced with the intermediate lever 82 corresponding to a sensorarranging member.

A vehicular operating pedal device 100 shown in FIG. 7 differs in anorientation converting mechanism 102 from the vehicular operating pedaldevice 10 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B correspond to FIG. 1A andFIG. 1B, respectively. FIG. 7A is a front view, and FIG. 7B is anenlarged cross-sectional view along line VIIA-VIIA of FIG. 7A. Anorientation converting mechanism 102 includes a connecting pin guide 104disposed on the operating pedal 16 to regulate a movement path for theclevis pin 26, and a linearly moving link 106 which connects the clevispin 26 and the sensor pin 64 of the load sensor 30. The orientationconverting mechanism 102 displaces the sensor pin 64 in a predetermineddirection in accordance with the movement of the clevis pin 26.

The clevis pin 26 is inserted into the connecting pin guide 104 which isan elongated hole linearly formed in a direction perpendicular to thecenter line O (i.e., constant direction) of the load sensor 30, and ismoved in a predetermined direction with guided by the connecting pinguide 104. A pair of linearly moving links 106, corresponds to a claimedinterlocking member, are provided symmetrically with respect to theoperating pedal 16 intervened therebetween. The linearly moving link 106has one longitudinal end connected to the clevis pin 26 to be pivotablerelative thereto, and other longitudinal end connected to the sensor pin64 to be pivotable relative thereto.

In the vehicular operating pedal device 100 structured in this way, theclevis pin 26 is linearly moved in a predetermined directionperpendicular to the center line O of the load sensor 30 with guided bythe connecting pin guide 104. Likewise, the sensor pin 64 connected tothe clevis pin 26 through the linearly moving link 106 is moved linearlyin the predetermined direction. Therefore, even if the operating pedal16 and the operating rod 22 are pivoted around the axis of the clevispin 26 relative to each other in accordance with the depressingoperation of the operating pedal 16, a reaction force from the clevispin 26 is always applied to the load sensor 30 through the linearlymoving link 106 in a constant i.e., fixed direction. As a result, owingto the constantly maintained deformed part of the deforming member 32,the detecting accuracy of the operating force is heightened, andvariation in detecting accuracy is prevented, thus the high reliabilitybeing rendered.

In the present invention, all that is required is to provide theconnecting pin guide 104 which moves the clevis pin 26 in apredetermined direction and which connects the clevis pin 26 and thesensor pin 64 by the linearly moving link 106. Therefore, the device canbe simply structured at low cost and can be structured compact.

Additionally, disposing the load sensor 30 in the sensor attaching hole28 of the operating pedal 16 can makes the vehicular operating pedaldevice 100 compact. Thus, the vehicular operating pedal device 100 canrender the same operation and effect as the vehicular operating pedaldevice 10 mentioned above.

A vehicular operating pedal device 110 shown in FIG. 8 includes theintermediate lever 82 similar to the vehicular operating pedal device 80shown in FIG. 6. The load sensor 30 is disposed at a pivotal movementconnecting portion 92 serving as the connecting portion between theintermediate lever 82 and the operating rod 22. The load sensor 30 isdisposed in a sensor attaching hole formed in the intermediate lever 82,and its sensor pin 64 is connected to the clevis pin 26 through theorientation converting mechanism 102 of FIG. 7A. Therefore, also in thisembodiment, the same operation and effect as that in the vehicularoperating pedal device 100 of FIG. 7A can be rendered as well. Thecross-section along line VIII-VIII of FIG. 8 has a structure in whichthe operating pedal 16 in FIG. 7B is replaced with the intermediatelever 82.

A vehicular operating pedal device 120 shown in FIG. 9 differs from thevehicular operating pedal device 100 shown in FIG. 7 in structure andarrangement of the load sensor 121, and in an orientation convertingmechanism 122. FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B correspond to FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B,respectively. FIG. 9A is a front view, and FIG. 9B is an enlargedcross-sectional view along line IXA-IXA of FIG. 9A. In the load sensor121, a stepped cylindrical main body member 134 is integrally fixed to acase 124, and a shaft-like member 136 is disposed concentrically withthe main body member 134 via the cylindrical deforming member 138. Theload sensor 121 is integrally fixed to the operating pedal 16 by afixing bolt 126 through the case 124. The shaft-like member 136projecting into a housing hole 128 formed in the operating pedal 16, isallowed to displace relative to the main body member 134 by the sheardeformation of the deforming member 138 in a direction perpendicular tothe axis. The deforming member 138, formed likewise the deforming member32 mentioned above, has an outer circumferential surface to which thestrain resistive elements 40 a to 40 d are attached.

The orientation converting mechanism 122 includes a connecting pin guide130 disposed on the operating pedal 16 to regulate a movement path forthe clevis pin 26, and a sliding member 132 disposed between the clevispin 26 and the shaft-like member 136. The orientation convertingmechanism 122 displaces the shaft-like member 136 in a constantdirection in accordance with the movement of the clevis pin 26. Theclevis pin 26 is inserted into the connecting pin guide 130 which is anelongated hole linearly formed in a direction perpendicular to thecenter line O (i.e., constant direction) of the load sensor 121, and ismoved in a constant direction with guided by the connecting pin guide130. A sliding member 132 corresponds to a claimed connection member.Between the connecting pin guide 130 and the housing hole 128, a linearguide groove is formed, which connects them and which guide the slidingmember 132 in the constant direction likewise. The sliding member 132 isdisposed in the guide groove with intervening or interposing between theclevis pin 26 and the shaft-like member 136.

Also, in the vehicular operating pedal device 120, the clevis pin 26linearly moves in a constant direction perpendicular to the center lineO of the load sensor 121 with guided by the connecting pin guide 130.The shaft-like member 136 also moves in this constant direction via thesliding member 132. Therefore, even if the operating pedal 16 and theoperating rod 22 are relatively pivoted around the axis of the clevispin 26 in accordance with the depressing operation of the operatingpedal 16, the reaction force applied from the clevis pin 26 to the loadsensor 121 through the sliding member 132 is maintained in the constantdirection. As a result, the constantly maintained deformed part of thedeforming member 138 heighten the detecting accuracy of an operatingforce, and prevents the variation in detecting accuracy, thus renderingthe high reliability.

In this embodiment, all that is required is to provide the connectingpin guide 130 which moves the clevis pin 26 in the constant directionand to dispose the sliding member 132 between the clevis pin 26 and theshaft-like member 136. Therefore, the device can be simply structured atlow cost and can be structured compact. Thus, this embodiment can renderthe same operation and effect as the vehicular operating pedal device100 of FIG. 7A.

A vehicular operating pedal device 140 shown in FIG. 10 includes theintermediate lever 82 similar to the vehicular operating pedal device 80shown in FIG. 6. A load sensor 121 is disposed at the pivotal movementconnecting portion 92 serving as the connecting portion between theintermediate lever 82 and the operating rod 22. The load sensor 121 isdisposed on one side of the intermediate lever 82 by use of the case124, and the reaction force of the clevis pin 26 is acted on theshaft-like member 136 of the load sensor 121 by the orientationconverting mechanism 122 of FIG. 9A. Therefore, this embodiment canrender the same operation and effect as that in the vehicular operatingpedal device 120 of FIG. 9A. The cross-section along line X-X of FIG. 10has a structure in which the operating pedal 16 in FIG. 9B is replacedwith the intermediate lever 82.

A vehicular operating pedal device 150 shown in FIG. 11 differs in anorientation converting mechanism 152 from the vehicular operating pedaldevice 10 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B correspond to FIG. 1Aand FIG. 1B, respectively. FIG. 11A is a front view, and FIG. 11B is anenlarged cross-sectional view along line XIA-XIA of FIG. 11A. Theoperating pedal 16 serving as the claimed sensor arranging member has anelongated guide hole 154 contiguous to the sensor attaching hole 28. Inthe guide hole 154, a first guide member 156 and a second guide member158 both constructing the orientation converting mechanism 152 aredisposed, and the clevis pin 26 and the intermediate pin 160 areinserted in the first guide member 156 and the second guide member 158.

A pair of first guide member 156 serving as a connecting pin guideregulating a movement path of the clevis pin 26 are disposed at bothaxial sides of the clevis pin 26 in the direction perpendicular to theaxis thereof. The first guide members 156 are engaged with a pulley 162rotatably mounted on the clevis pin 26 to guide the clevis pin 26 in alinear direction corresponding to the substantially rightward andleftward direction in FIG. 11A.

A second guide member 158 serves as the claimed intermediate guide whichlinearly moves the intermediate pin 160 serving as the claimedintermediate sliding member in a direction perpendicular to the centerline O (predetermined direction) of the load sensor 30. The second guidemember 158 is engaged with a pulley 164 rotatably mounted on theintermediate pin 160. With this structure, the second guide member 158guides the intermediate pin 160 in the linear direction corresponding tosubstantially rightward and leftward direction in FIG. 11A.

The clevis pin 26 and the intermediate pin 160 are connected relativelypivotable to the pair of interlocking links 166 symmetrically disposedon both sides of the operating pedal 16 with intervening ittherebetween, so that the intermediate pin 160 displaces in a constantdirection in accordance with the movement of the clevis pin 26.Additionally, the intermediate pin 160 and the sensor pin 64 arerespectively connected to the pair of linearly moving links 168symmetrically disposed on both sides of the operating pedal 16 withintervening it therebetween. Therefore, the intermediate pin 160 and thesensor pin 64 in turn displace in the constant direction in accordancewith the movement of the clevis pin 26. In this embodiment, theintermediate pin 160, the interlocking link 166, and the linearly movinglink 168 construct the interlocking members. The linearly moving link168 is integrally fixed to the intermediate pin 160, and is pivotablyconnected relative to the sensor pin 64.

Also in this vehicular operating pedal device 150, by the movement inthe linear direction of the clevis pin 26 guided by the first guidemember 156, the sensor pin 64 displaces in the constant directionperpendicular to the center line O of the load sensor 30 by theinterlocking link 166, the intermediate pin 160, and the linearly movinglink 168. Therefore, even if the operating pedal 16 and the operatingrod 22 are relatively pivoted around the axis of the clevis pin 26 inaccordance with the depressing operation of the operating pedal 16, thereaction force applied from the clevis pin 26 to the load sensor 30 isalways maintained in the constant direction. As a result, the constantlymaintained deformed part of the deforming member can heighten thedetecting accuracy of an operating force, and prevents variation indetecting accuracy, thus rendering the high reliability.

The movement path of the clevis pin 26 is regulated by the first guidemember 156. The intermediate pin 160 moves in the predetermineddirection by the second guide member 158, and the clevis pin 26 areconnected by the interlocking link 166. The reaction force applied tothe clevis 24 is transmitted from the intermediate pin 160 to the sensorpin 64 of the load sensor 30 through the linearly moving link 168.Therefore, the design freedom of the connecting position of the clevispin 26 and the disposing position of the load sensor 30 can beincreased.

In addition, disposing the load sensor 30 in the sensor attaching hole28 of the operating pedal 16 can construct the vehicular operating pedaldevice 150 compact. The same operation and effect as the vehicularoperating pedal device 10 can be obtained in the vehicular operatingpedal device 150.

FIG. 12 shows the vehicular operating pedal device 170 in which theintermediate lever 82 is provided in the same way as the vehicularoperating pedal device 80 of FIG. 6. At the pivotal movement connectingportion 92 serving as the connecting portion between the intermediatelever 82 and the operating rod 22, the load sensor 30 is disposed. Theintermediate lever 82 is provided with a guide hole 154, a first guidemember 156, a second guide member 158, and the like. The orientationconverting mechanism 152 of FIG. 11 is disposed on this intermediatelever 82. Thus, the vehicular operating pedal device 170 is constructedso that the reaction force from the clevis pin 26 is always applied tothe load sensor 30 in the constant direction. Therefore, this embodimentcan renders the same operation and effect as that in the vehicularoperating pedal device 150 of FIG. 11A. The cross-section along line ofXII-XII of FIG. 12 corresponds to the structure in which the operatingpedal 16 in FIG. 11B is replaced with the intermediate lever 82.

A vehicular operating pedal device 180 shown in FIG. 13 differs in thedisposing position of the load sensor 30 from the vehicular operatingpedal device 80 shown in FIG. 6. In a pivotal movement connectingportion 182 which connects the connecting links 86 to the intermediatelever 82 through the linking pin 90, the load sensor 30 and theorientation converting mechanism 60 are disposed in the intermediatelever 82 to detect an operating force transmitted from the linking pin90 to the intermediate lever 82. More specifically, the load sensor 30is disposed in a sensor attaching hole 184 formed in the intermediatelever 82, and the sensor pin 64 of the load sensor 30 is connected tothe linking pin 90 through the orientation converting mechanism 60.

The intermediate lever 82 has a clearance hole 186 allowing the linkingpin 90 to pivot around the axis of the supporting pin 66, so that theoperating force is always applied from the linking pin 90 to the loadsensor 30 in the constant direction. The linking pin 90 corresponds to aclaimed connecting pin of the pivotal movement connecting portion 182.Therefore, this embodiment can render, the same operation and effect asthat in the embodiments shown in FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B, and FIG. 6. FIG. 13Aand FIG. 13B correspond to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, respectively. FIG. 13Ais a front view, and FIG. 13B is an enlarged cross-sectional view alongline XIIIA-XIIIA of FIG. 13A.

The present invention can be applied to a pivotal movement connectingportion which connects the connecting link 86 to the operating pedal 16through the linking pin 88 to be pivotable relative thereto, or to apivotal movement connecting portion in which the intermediate lever 82is pivotably attached to the pedal support 12 by the supporting pin 84.In these pivotal movement connecting portions, the load applied to thelinking pin 88 or to the supporting pin 84 is detected as the operatingforce.

FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 are views showing a load sensor 190 used instead ofthe load sensor 30 in the embodiment of FIG. 1. These are sectionalviews corresponding to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, respectively. FIG. 14A andFIG. 15A are longitudinal sectional views parallel to the center line O,and FIG. 14B and FIG. 15B are cross-sectional views along line XIVA-XIVAof FIG. 14A and line XVA-XVA of FIG. 15A, respectively. The load sensor190 includes a cylindrical deforming member 192 which detects the loadapplied thereto in the radial direction thereof. An annular member 194is disposed on the outer peripheral side of the deforming member 192.The annular member 194 is integrally attached to the sensor attachinghole 28 with a predetermined posture (phase) by press fitting or by useof a bolt or a leaf spring, and it integrally holds a part of thedeforming member 192 around the center line (i.e., a right sidewall partshown in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15) by welding, for example. A shaft-likemember 196 is inserted into a cylindrical inner hole of the deformingmember 192, to which the pivotal moving link 68 of the orientationconverting mechanism 60 is connected. The sensor pin 64 can be used asthe shaft-like member 196. The annular member 194 corresponds to aclaimed main body member.

In the load sensor 190, when the value of the externally applied load isapproximately zero, the annular member 194 is kept to be substantiallyconcentric with the axis S of the shaft-like member 196 as shown in FIG.14. The deforming member 192 is kept to be eccentric with respect to theaxis S so that an inner circumferential surface of a sidewall partthereof on a side opposite to a side fixed to the annular member 194,that is, on the left side in FIG. 14 substantially comes into contactwith the shaft-like member 196. This state is regulated by pressing theoperating rod 22 rightward in FIG. 1A by the action of a return spring(not shown) for example, and by causing the operating pedal 16 to abutto a stopper (not shown) to be located in an initial position. In thisstate, the deforming member 192 has a cylindrical shape of asubstantially true circle.

On the other hand, when the load is radially applied between the annularmember 194 and the shaft-like member 196 by a reaction force of theoperating rod 22 in accordance with the depressing operation of theoperating pedal 16, the shaft-like member 196 displaces leftwardrelative to the annular member 194 in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15. As a result,the deforming member 192 is stretched and deformed into an oval as shownin FIG. 15. The annular member 194 has an annular internal space largeenough to allow relative displacement with respect to the shaft-likemember 196 or allow the tensile deformation of the deforming member 192.The deforming member 192 being made of a metallic material such asferritic stainless steel, and capable of elastically deforming byreceiving the radial load, undergoes tensile deformation according tothe operating force generated by the depressing operation of theoperating pedal 16.

To detect the tensile strain of the deforming member 192, strainresistive elements serving as the strain detecting element are fixed, onthe outer circumferential surface of the deforming member 192, at anupper sidewall part and a lower sidewall part in FIG. 15B, i.e., toparts at which tensile strain is caused on the outer circumferentialsurface of the deforming member 192. Similar to the above embodiments,the insulation film such as the glass paste is disposed in advance onthe outer circumferential surface of the deforming member 192, and theelectro-conductive circuit pattern is formed on the insulation film bythe conductive material such as silver. The strain resistive elementsare formed integrally by firing for example so that a part thereof cancome into contact with the electro-conductive circuit pattern.

The size and the disposing position of the strain resistive element areappropriately set in consideration of assembly workability for example.In the present invention, the load always acts in the constantdirection, regardless of the operating amount of the depressed operatingpedal 16, so that the deforming member 192 deforms at the constant part.Therefore, high detecting accuracy can be stably obtained even when thestrain resistive element is comparatively small.

Even in the other embodiments shown in the drawings subsequent to FIG.6, the load sensor 190 can be used instead of the load sensor 30 aswell.

FIG. 16 shows an operating pedal device 210 for a service brake of avehicle. FIG. 16A is a front view (corresponding to a lateral view ofthe vehicle in the installed state of the device), and FIG. 16B is anenlarged cross-sectional view along line XVIA-XVIA of FIG. 16A. Thisvehicular operating pedal device 210 includes, different from theoperating pedal device 200 shown in FIG. 25, an intermediate lever 260which transmits the operating force from the operating pedal 16 to theoperating rod 22. The intermediate lever 260 is pivotably disposed onthe pedal support 12 by a supporting pin 262 parallel to the supportshaft 14, and it is mechanically pivoted around the supporting pin 262in accordance with the depressing operation of the operating pedal 16connected thereto through a connecting link 264. The connecting link 264has both longitudinal ends respectively connected relatively pivotably,that is pivotably connected relative, to the operating pedal 16 and tothe intermediate lever 260 through a pair of linking pins 266 and 268both being parallel to the support shaft 14.

To a top end of the intermediate lever 260, the operating rod 22 isconnected relatively pivotably, that is pivotably connected relativethrough the pivotal movement connecting portion 270. In this embodiment,the intermediate lever 260 serving as the claimed sensor arrangingmember is provided with a sensor housing hole 272 extending therethroughin the axial direction, and the load sensor 274 is disposed in thesensor housing hole 272 with a predetermined clearance. The load sensor274 structured substantially in the same way as the load sensor 30mentioned above, includes the cylindrical deforming member 32, theannular member 34 serving as the claimed main body member, and theshaft-like member 36. Note that the annular member 34 projects at bothaxial ends thereof from both axial sides of the sensor housing hole 272,and the sensor pin 276 passing through the axis of the shaft-like member36 is disposed to project at both axial ends thereof from both axialsides of the annular member 34. In this embodiment, the sensor pin 276is formed independent from or separated from the shaft-like member 36,and is inserted into the through-hole 38 to be relatively pivotable.However, the sensor pin 276 may be constructed integrally with theshaft-like member 36.

The intermediate lever 260 is additionally provided with both a pivotalmoving link 282 pivotably around a first supporting pin 280 parallel tothe clevis pin 26, and a swinging lever 286 swingably on a secondsupporting pin 284 parallel to the clevis pin 26. The pivotal movinglink 282 is pivotably supported in its intermediate position by thefirst supporting pin 280. The pivotal moving link 282 has bothlongitudinal ends, to one of which the operating rod 22 is connectedrelatively pivotably through the clevis pin 26, and to the other ofwhich the annular member 34 of the load sensor 274 is integrally fixedby welding, for example.

The first supporting pin 280 and the clevis pin 26 are disposed,likewise the annular member 34, to pass through the intermediate lever260 and to thereby project at both axial end from the both axial sides.A pair of pivotal moving links 282 respectively disposed on both sidesof the intermediate lever 260 with intervening it therebetween, areconnected to both axial ends of the first supporting pin 280 and to bothaxial ends of the clevis pin 26, and are integrally fixed to both axialends of the annular member 34. The intermediate lever 260 has an arc orlinear elongate hole 288 centering on the first supporting pin 280 inthe disposed position of the clevis pin 26, which allows the pivotalmoving link 282 to relatively pivot around the first supporting pin 280by the reaction force of the operating rod 22. The clevis pin 26corresponds to the claimed connecting pin of the pivotal movementconnecting portion 270.

The swinging lever 286 has both longitudinal ends, one of which ispivotably supported by the second supporting pin 284, and to the otherone of which the sensor pin 276 is connected relatively rotatable. Thesecond supporting pin 284 has the following structure. In a front viewseen from the direction of the center line O of the load sensor 274(corresponding to a state of FIG. 16A), a straight line connecting theaxis S of the shaft-like member 36 connected to the swinging lever 286and the axis of the second supporting pin 284, and a straight lineconnecting the center of the annular member 34 fixed to the pivotalmoving link 282 (corresponding to the center line O of the load sensor274) and the axis of the first supporting pin 280, intersects atapproximately right angle with each other. Additionally, the secondsupporting pin 284 is disposed at a position where the tensile forceacts on the swinging lever 286 by relatively pivoting the pivotal movinglink 282 around the first supporting pin 280 (i.e., clockwise in FIG.16A) by the reaction force of the operating rod 22.

Therefore, the sensor pin 276 connected to the swinging lever 286 andthe shaft-like member 36 in turn are kept at the substantially constantposition of the intermediate lever 260 regardless of the reaction forceof the operating rod 22. They displace relative to the annular member 34that is pivoted around the first supporting pin 280 and displacedtogether with the pivotal moving link 282 by the reaction force of theoperating rod 22. Using the shear deformation of the deforming member 32by this relative displacement, the operating force of the operatingpedal 16 is detected. The clearance of the sensor housing hole 272 anddimension of the elongated hole 288 are determined to allow thedisplacement of the annular member 34 resulting from the sheardeformation of the deforming member 32, and the pivotal movement of thepivotal moving link 282. The second supporting pin 284 is disposed topass through the intermediate lever 260 and to thereby project at bothaxial ends thereof from the both axial sides of the intermediate lever260 similar to the sensor pin 276. A pair of swinging levers 286disposed on both sides of the intermediate lever 260 with intervening ittherebetween are connected to both axial ends of the second supportingpin 284 and to both axial ends of the sensor pin 276, respectively.

In the thus structured vehicular operating pedal device 210, thereaction force transmitted from the clevis pin 26 to the annular member34 of the load sensor 274 through the pivotal moving link 282 isreceived by the second supporting pin 284 through the swinging lever286. Therefore, with the depressing operation of the operating pedal 16,the pivotal moving link 282 is pivoted around the supporting pin 262substantially integral with the intermediate lever 260. At this time,although the operating rod 22 and the intermediate lever 260 are pivotedaround the axis of the clevis pin 26, the load always acts on the loadsensor 274 in the substantially constant direction. The constantdirection can be otherwise expressed as the direction perpendicular to aline segment connecting the sensor center line O and the axis of thefirst supporting pin 280 in the front view shown in FIG. 16A (i.e.,substantially leftward in FIG. 16A). Therefore, the deformed part of thedeforming member 32 is kept substantially constant.

FIG. 17A is a sectional view of the load sensor 274, in the front view(i.e., in the state of FIG. 16A) described above, in a directionperpendicular to a line segment connecting the sensor center line O andthe axis of the first supporting pin 280, that is, in the longitudinaldirection of the swinging lever 286. FIG. 17B is a cross-sectional viewalong line XVIIA-XVIIA of FIG. 17A. In FIG. 17, the sensor pin 276 isrotatable relative to both the shaft-like member 36 and the swinginglever 286. The deforming member 32 deforms as shown in FIGS. 18A and 18Bin accordance with the depressing operation of the operating pedal 16.As a result, relative rotation occurs on the member having lessfriction, e.g., on the swinging lever 286, resulting in an extremelysmall rotation angle. To reduce friction, a bearing or the like can beprovided if necessary. FIG. 18A and FIG. 18B correspond to FIG. 17A andFIG. 17B, respectively. FIG. 18B is a cross-sectional view along lineXVIIIA-XVIIIA of FIG. 18A.

The annular member 34 and the shaft-like member 36 are connectedtogether via the deforming member 32 in this way. If the radial loadapplied externally, i.e., in the direction perpendicular to the centerline O is approximately zero, both the shaft-like member 36 and thesensor pin 276 are kept in a state where the axis S substantiallycoincides with the center line O of the load sensor 274 as shown inFIGS. 17A and 17B. The deforming member 32 is also kept in thecylindrical shape centering on the center line O over the entire lengththereof. The center line O of the load sensor 274 corresponds to thecenter line of the annular member 34 which is the main body member.

On the other hand, if the reaction force of the operating rod 22 isapplied to the annular member 34 via the pivotal moving link 82 inaccordance with the depressing operation of the operating pedal 16, theradial load is applied between the annular member 34 and the shaft-likemember 36. The radial load can be otherwise expressed as the load whichrelatively moves the annular member 34 leftward in FIGS. 17A and 17B(substantially leftward also in FIG. 16A). As a result, the deformingmember 32 disposed therebetween undergoes the shear strain as shown inFIG. 18. An annular space is provided between the annular member 34 andthe shaft-like member 36 to allow the relative movement therebetween andthe shear deformation of the deforming member 32. The deforming member32 is made of a metallic material such as ferritic stainless steel to beelastically deformed by receiving the load in the radial direction.Accordingly, the deforming member 32 undergoes the shear deformationaccording to the operating force generated by the depressing operationof the operating pedal 16. The deforming amount of the deforming member32 is extremely small, not influencing on the depressing stroke of theoperating pedal 16. However, for an easy understanding, the deformingamount thereof is exaggerated in the drawing as described above.

To detect the shear strain of the deforming member 32 as shown in FIG.19, four strain resistive elements 240 a to 240 d serving as the claimedstrain detecting elements are attached to the outer circumferentialsurface of the deforming member 32. For example, thin-film or thick-filmsemiconductor strain gauges or generally-used strain gauges are used asdesirable examples for the strain resistive elements 240 a to 240 d.FIG. 19A, corresponding to FIG. 18A, shows a state where the deformingmember 32 has undergone the shear deformation. FIG. 19B is a plan viewseen from above in FIG. 19A, and FIG. 19C is a development view of theouter circumferential surface of the deforming member 32.

The four strain resistive elements 240 a to 240 d are located at twosymmetrically positions on the deforming member 32 with intervening thecenter line O (S) therebetween, in a direction where the deformingmember 32 causes the shear strain by the externally applied load. Ateach of the two symmetrical positions, one strain resistive element islocated at a part to be undergone an axial tensile deformation by theshear strain, other strain resistive element is located at a part to beundergone an axial compression deformation by the shear strain. One andthe other strain resistive elements are spaced.

In this embodiment, the direction of the load acting on the load sensor274 via the pivotal moving link 282 is set to be substantially constant.Specifically, the direction thereof is set to be rightward and leftwardin FIG. 16A, and to be rightward and leftward in FIGS. 17A and 17B,FIGS. 18A and 18B, and FIGS. 19A and 19B. Therefore, the strainresistive elements 240 a to 240 d are not required to be large in size.However, in consideration of an assembling workability of the deformingmember 32 for example, each of the strain resistive elements 240 a to240 d is long enough to cover an angular range of 90 degrees or so inthe circumferential direction of the deforming member 32.

By connecting these strain resistive elements 240 a to 240 d with anelectro-conductive circuit pattern 250 (see FIG. 19C), a bridge circuitshown in FIG. 20 is constructed. A power source E is connected between apower source electrode 242 and a GND (ground) electrode 244 of theelectro-conductive circuit pattern 250, so that an electric signalcorresponding to the strain is output from between a pair of outputelectrodes 246 and 248. To connect the power source E to the powersource electrode 242, or to take out an electric signal output from theoutput electrodes 246 and 248, the wire harness 256 (see FIG. 16A) isconnected to these electrodes. This wire harness 256 extended from theload sensor 274, is connected through the connector 258 to a controlcircuit unit of the vehicle. On the outer circumferential surface of thedeforming member 32, an insulation film 252 (see FIG. 19C) such as aglass paste is disposed in advance. The electro-conductive circuitpattern 250 is formed on the insulation film 252 by using a conductivematerial such as silver. Further, the strain resistive elements 240 a to240 d are integrally formed by firing for example, to be come intocontact, at a part thereof, with the electro-conductive circuit pattern250. A control circuit unit may be provided in the load sensor 274.Instead of the full bridge circuit used in this embodiment, a halfbridge circuit may be used for example, when using a deforming member inwhich only a part receiving the load based on the operating force of theoperating pedal 16 is formed in an arc shape.

In the thus structured vehicular operating pedal device 210, the loadsensor 274 electrically detecting the operating force based on therelative displacement between the annular member 34 and the shaft-likemember 36 is disposed at the pivotal movement connecting portion 270relatively pivotably connecting the intermediate lever 260 and theoperating rod 22 relatively. The load sensor 274 detects the operatingforce transmitted through the clevis pin 26 of the pivotal connectingportion 270. Disposing the load sensor 274 within the sensor housinghole 272 formed in the intermediate lever 260, can make the whole of theoperating pedal device 210 simple and compact, does not influence on theinstalling conditions of conventional pedal devices. Additionally, therelating members such as the operating rod 22, the clevis 24 and theclevis pin 26, which are the same as that in the prior art can be usedin this embodiment, resulting in the device structure which can beconstructed at low cost.

On the other hand, to the pivotal moving link 282 disposed pivotablyrelative to the intermediate lever 260 around the first supporting pin280 the clevis pin 26 is pivotably connected, and the swinging lever 286is disposed swingably around the second supporting pin 284. The annularmember 34 of the load sensor 274 is integrally fixed to the pivotalmoving link 282, and the shaft-like member 36 is connected pivotablyrelative to the swinging lever 286 through the sensor pin 276.Therefore, even if the intermediate lever 260 and the operating rod 22are relatively pivoted around the axis of the clevis pin 26 inaccordance with the depressing operation of the operating pedal 16, thereaction force from the clevis pin 26 always acts on the load sensor 274in the substantially constant direction by the pivotal moving link 282.As a result, the deformed part of the deforming member 32 is maintainedconstant, so that the detecting accuracy of the operating force isheightened, and variation in detecting accuracy is prevented, thusrendering the high reliability.

Connecting the shaft-like member 36 rotatably connected relatively tothe swinging lever 286 through the sensor pin 276 can absorb dimensionalerrors or assembling errors, and can ease the required dimensionalprecision etc., so that the device can be produced at lower cost,compared with a case where the shaft-like member 36 is integrally fixedto the intermediate lever 260.

In this embodiment, the second supporting pin 284 is arranged asfollows. It is arranged so that a straight line connecting the axis S ofthe shaft-like member 36 connected to the swinging lever 286 and theaxis of the second supporting pin 284, and a straight line connectingthe center (center line O) of the annular member 34 fixed to the pivotalmoving link 282 and the axis of the first supporting pin 280, areintersected with each other at approximately right angle. That is, thesecond supporting pin 284 is disposed on or near the action line of theload (reaction force) applied from the clevis pin 26 to the load sensor274 through the pivotal moving link 282. Therefore, the load isefficiently received by the second supporting pin 284, which results inthe device having simple and compact structure, and being produced atlow cost. The straight lines are not necessarily required to intersectat exactly right angle with each other. As long as both straight linesintersect with each other in the range of ±20 degrees with respect tothe right angle, i.e., in the range from 70 degrees to 110 degrees, asufficient effect can be obtained.

In this embodiment, the second supporting pin 284 is disposed so thatthe pivotal moving link 282 pivots clockwise around the first supportingpin 280 in accordance with the depressing operation of the operatingpedal 16, based on which the tensile force acts on the swinging lever286. Therefore, there is no fear that an excessive load acts on theswinging lever 286 or the second supporting pin 284, which results inthe device having simple and compact structure, and being produced atlow cost. In detail, if the second supporting pin 284 is disposed sothat the compressive load acts on the swinging lever 286, that is, ifthe second supporting pin 284 is disposed on the left side of the loadsensor 274 in FIG. 16A, following problem may be caused. That is, anexcessive load may act on the swinging lever 286 or the secondsupporting pin 284 by a servo action of, for example, a toggle linkmechanism, depending on the positional relationship of the secondsupporting pin 284 with the pivotal moving link 282.

In this embodiment, the intermediate lever 260 connected to theoperating rod 22 relatively pivotably around the axis of the clevis pin26 is used as the claimed sensor arranging member, and is provided withthe load sensor 274 thereon. Therefore, the load sensor 274 can detectthe final operating force (output) transmitted from the clevis pin 26 tothe operating rod 22, and thus can detect the braking force generatedaccording to an output from the operating rod 22 with high accuracy.

The load sensor 274 is disposed in the sensor housing hole 272 formed inthe intermediate lever 260 with a predetermined clearance. Additionally,both the pair of pivotal moving links 282 and the pair of swinginglevers 286 are respectively disposed on both axial sides of theplate-like intermediate lever 260, and are respectively connected toboth axial ends of the sensor pin 276 passing through the axis of theannular member 34 or the axis of the shaft-like member 36. Therefore,with the rotational moment such as twist suppressed, the load sensor 274operates stably, thus the detecting accuracy being further heightened.

FIG. 21 shows a vehicular operating pedal device 300 according toanother embodiment in which the present invention is applied to theoperating pedal device 200 of FIG. 25. In this embodiment, the pivotalmovement connecting portion 20 is structured likewise the pivotalmovement connecting portion 270. In detail, the operating pedal 16 hasthe sensor housing hole 272 and the elongated hole 288. The load sensor274 is disposed in the sensor housing hole 272 with a clearance, and theclevis pin 26 is inserted into the elongated hole 288. On the operatingpedal 16, the pivotal moving link 282 disposed pivotably around thefirst supporting pin 280 and the swinging lever 286 is disposedpivotably around the second supporting pin 284.

The pivotal moving link 282 has one longitudinal end to which the clevispin 26 is connected relatively rotatably, and the other longitudinal endto which the annular member 34 of the load sensor 274 is integrallyfixed. The sensor pin 276 inserted along the axis of the shaft-likemember 36 of the load sensor 274 is pivotably connected relative to theswinging lever 286. Therefore, this embodiment can render the sameoperation and effect as that in the above-mentioned embodiments. Thecross-section along line XXIA-XXIA of FIG. 21 corresponding to astructure in which the intermediate lever 260 is replaced with theoperating pedal 16, in FIG. 16B. The operating pedal 16 corresponds tothe claimed sensor arranging member.

A vehicular operating pedal device 310 shown in FIG. 22 differs in thedisposing position of the load sensor 274 from the vehicular operatingpedal device 210. In a pivotal movement connecting portion 312 in whichthe connecting link 264 is connected to the intermediate lever 260through the linking pin 268, the intermediate lever 260 is provided withthe load sensor 274 to detect an operating force transmitted from thelinking pin 268 to the intermediate lever 260. In more detail, theintermediate lever 260 has a sensor housing hole 314 and an elongatedhole 316. The load sensor 274 is disposed in the sensor housing hole 314with a predetermined clearance, and the linking pin 268 is inserted intothe elongated hole 316.

On the intermediate lever 260, the pivotal moving link 282 is disposedpivotably around the first supporting pin 280 and the swinging lever 286is disposed pivotably around the second supporting pin 284. The pivotalmoving link 282 has one longitudinal end to which the linking pin 268 isrelatively pivotably connected, and the other longitudinal end to whichthe annular member 34 of the load sensor 274 is integrally fixed. Thelinking pin 268 corresponds to the claimed connecting pin of the pivotalmovement connecting portion 312. The sensor pin 276 inserted along theaxis of the shaft-like member 36 of the load sensor 274 is relativelyrotatably connected to the swinging lever 286. FIG. 22A and FIG. 22Bcorrespond to FIG. 16A and FIG. 16B, respectively. FIG. 22A is a frontview, and FIG. 22B is an enlarged cross-sectional view along lineXXIIA-XXIIA of FIG. 22A.

This embodiment can render the same operation and effect as that in theembodiment of FIGS. 16A and 16B, except the following point. Thedifferent feature is that, with the operating pedal 16 depressed, thepivotal moving link 282 pivots clockwise around the first supporting pin280 by the reaction force of the operating rod 22, so that thecompressive load acts on the swinging lever 286.

As described above, the compressive load acts on the swinging lever 286.Herein, the second supporting pin 284 is disposed so that a straightline connecting the axis S of the shaft-like member 36 connected to theswinging lever 286 and the axis of the second supporting pin 284, and astraight line connecting the center (center line O) of the annularmember 34 fixed to the pivotal moving link 282 and the axis of the firstsupporting pin 280 in the front view of FIG. 22A, intersect with eachother at approximately right angle. In detail, the second supporting pin284 is disposed on or near the action line of a load (operating force)applied from the linking pin 268 to the load sensor 274 through thepivotal moving link 282. Therefore, there is no fear that an excessiveload acts on the swinging lever 286 or the second supporting pin 284 bya servo action of a toggle link mechanism for example, and the devicecan be structured simple, compact, and low in cost. If the secondsupporting pin 284 is disposed on the left side of the load sensor 274in FIG. 22A, the tensile force can act on the swinging lever 286 as thatin the above-mentioned embodiments.

The present invention can be applied to the pivotal movement connectingportion in which the connecting link 264 is pivotably connected relativeto the operating pedal 16 through the linking pin 266, or to the pivotalmovement connecting portion in which the intermediate lever 260 ispivotably attached to the pedal support 12 through the supporting pin262. In these examples, the load acting on the linking pin 266 or on thesupporting pin 262 is detected as the operating force.

FIG. 23 and FIG. 24 are sectional views corresponding to those of FIG.17 and FIG. 18, respectively, showing a load sensor 320 used instead ofthe load sensor 274 in the embodiment of FIG. 16. FIG. 23A and FIG. 24Aare longitudinal sectional views parallel to the center line O. FIG. 23Band FIG. 24B are cross-sectional views along line XXIIIA-XXIIIA of FIG.23A and line XXIVA-XXIVA of FIG. 24A, respectively. The load sensor 320includes a cylindrical deforming member 322 that detects a load appliedin the radial direction thereof. An annular member 324 disposed radiallyoutwardly of the deforming member 322, in the sensor housing hole 272with a clearance, is integrally fixed to the pivotal moving link 282.The annular member 324 integrally holds a part of the deforming member322 around the center line (i.e., a left sidewall part shown in FIG. 23and FIG. 24) by welding for example. The shaft-like member 326 insertedinto the cylindrical hole of the deforming member 322, is rotatablyconnected relative to the swinging levers 286. The sensor pin 276 can beused as the shaft-like member 326. The annular member 324 corresponds tothe claimed main body member.

When the externally applied load is approximately zero, the load sensor320 is held so that the annular member 324 is substantially concentricwith the axis S of the shaft-like member 326 as shown in FIG. 23. Thedeforming member 322 is held to be eccentric with respect to the axis Sso that the sidewall part thereof on the side opposite to the side fixedto the annular member 324, i.e., on the right side in FIG. 23substantially contacts with the shaft-like member 126 on the innercircumferential surface thereof. This state is provided by pressing theoperating rod 22 rightward in FIG. 16A by the action of a return spring(not shown) for example, and by causing the operating pedal 16 tocontact with the stopper (not shown) to be located in the initialposition. In this state, the deforming member 322 assumes a cylindricalshape having a substantially true circle.

On the other hand, when the radial load is applied between the annularmember 324 and the shaft-like member 326 by the reaction force of theoperating rod 22 in accordance with the depressing operation of theoperating pedal 16, the annular member 324 displaces relative to theshaft-like member 326 leftward in FIG. 23 and FIG. 24. As a result, thedeforming member 322 is stretched and deformed into an oval as shown inFIG. 24. The annular member 324 has the annular internal space of sizeto allow the relative displacement to the shaft-like member 326 or thetensile deformation of the deforming member 322. The deforming member322 made of a metallic material such as ferritic stainless steel, whichcan be elastically deformed by receiving the radial load, undergoestensile deformation according to an operating force generated by thedepressing operation of the operating pedal 16.

To detect the tensile strain of the deforming member 322, strainresistive elements serving as the strain detecting element are fixed onthe outer peripheral surface of the deforming member 322 to upper andlower sidewall parts in FIG. 24B, i.e., to parts at which tensiledeformation is caused. As that in the above embodiments, the insulationfilm such as a glass paste, is in advance disposed on the outercircumferential surface of the deforming member 322. Theelectro-conductive circuit pattern is formed on the insulation film byusing the conductive material such as silver. The strain resistiveelements are further formed integrally with the electro-conductivecircuit pattern by firing for example to be partially contacted with theelectro-conductive circuit pattern.

The size and the disposing position of the strain resistive element areappropriately selected in consideration of, for example, assemblingworkability. In the present invention, the load always acting in thesubstantially constant direction deforms a substantially given part ofthe deforming member 322, regardless of the depressed amount ofoperating pedal 16. Therefore, the high detecting accuracy can be stablyobtained even when comparatively small deformation is caused.

Even in the embodiments shown in FIG. 21, FIG. 22A, and FIG. 22B, theload sensor 320 can be likewise used instead of the load sensor 274.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described in detailas above with reference to the attached drawings. Noted that the presentinvention is never limited to these embodiments, but can be embodied invariously modified or improved mode based on ordinary knowledge of aperson skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A vehicular operating pedal device with a loadsensor, comprising: an operating pedal movably disposed on a pedalsupport fixed to a vehicle and depressed by a driver; a reaction forcemember to which an operating force of the operating pedal is transmittedand on which a reaction force corresponding to the operating force isacted; a pivotal movement connecting portion placed between theoperating pedal and the reaction force member, connecting a pair ofmembers about a connecting pin relatively pivotable, and transmittingthe operating force through the connecting pin; a load sensor, disposedin a sensor housing hole with a predetermined clearance formed in asensor arranging member in the pivotal movement connecting portion toreceive a load in a predetermined direction for electrically detectingthe operating force, regardless of variation of the direction of thereaction force relative to the operating pedal input from the reactionforce member in accordance with a depression of the operating pedal, theload sensor including a shaft member, a main body member disposed to berelatively displaced to the shaft member in a direction perpendicular toan axis thereof, a deforming member spanned over the shaft member andthe main body member, and strain detecting elements fixed to thedeforming member and detecting a deformation caused in the deformingmember by allowing relative displacement between the shaft member andthe main body member in the direction perpendicular to the axis of theshaft member based on the reaction force; a pivotal moving link disposedon the sensor arranging member to be pivotable around a first supportingpin parallel to the connecting pin in the pivotal movement connectingportion, the pivotal moving link connected relatively pivotable to theconnecting pin that is inserted into an elongated hole formed in thesensor arranging member to be displaceable relative to the sensorarranging member, and connected to one of the shaft member and the mainbody member of the load sensor to be pivoted around the first supportingpin by the operating force applied from the connecting pin or by thereaction force; and a swinging lever disposed on the sensor arrangingmember, connected to a second supporting pin parallel to the connectingpin to be swingable around the second supporting pin, and connected tothe other of the shaft member and the main body.
 2. The vehicularoperating pedal device with the load sensor according to claim 1,wherein, when viewed from a direction of the axis of the firstsupporting pin, the second supporting pin is disposed such that astraight line connecting an axis of the second supporting pin and anaxis of the other of the main body member and the shaft member connectedto the swinging lever, intersects with a straight line connecting anaxis of the first supporting pin and an axis of the one of the main bodymember and the shaft member connected to the pivotal moving link at asubstantially right angle.
 3. The vehicular operating pedal device withthe load sensor according to claim 1, wherein the second supporting pinis disposed at a position where, with the pivotal moving link pivotedaround the first supporting pin in accordance with a depression of theoperating pedal, a tensile force is acted on the swinging lever.
 4. Thevehicular operating pedal device with the load sensor according to claim1, wherein the sensor arranging member is a plate shaped memberpivotably connected relative to the reaction force member through thepivotal movement connecting portion, and is provided with the sensorhousing hole passing therethrough; the main body member projects fromboth axial sides of the sensor housing hole, and a sensor pin passingthrough the axis of the shaft member is disposed to project from bothaxial sides of the main body member; the pivotal moving link is a firstpivotal moving link; the swinging lever is a first swinging lever; thevehicular operating pedal device further includes a second pivotalmoving link and a second swinging lever; and the first and secondpivotal moving links and the first and second swinging levers aredisposed at both sides of the sensor arranging member, respectively, andare connected to both axial ends of the main body member or the sensorpin, respectively.
 5. The vehicular operating pedal device with the loadsensor according to claim 1, wherein the operating pedal is disposed onthe pedal support pivotably around a supporting axis, and the operatingpedal serves as the sensor arranging member.
 6. The vehicular operatingpedal device with the load sensor according to claim 1, furthercomprising an intermediate lever disposed pivotably on the pedalsupport, connected to the operating pedal through a connecting link, andpivotally connected relative to the reaction force member through thepivotal movement connecting portion, and the intermediate lever servesas the sensor arranging member.
 7. The vehicular operating pedal devicewith the load sensor according to claim 1, wherein the deforming memberhas a hollow cylindrical shape; one axial end and the other axial end ofthe cylindrical deforming member are integrally fixed to the main bodymember and the shaft member, respectively; and the strain detectingelements detect a shear strain caused in the deforming member based onthe relative displacement between the main body member and the shaftmember by the reaction force.
 8. An operating device with a load sensor,comprising: an operating member that is moved to be operated, whereinthe operating member is an operating pedal; a reaction force member towhich an operating force of the operating member is transmitted and onwhich a reaction force corresponding to the operating force is acted; atleast one pivotal movement connecting portion, placed between theoperating member and the reaction force member, to connect a pair ofmembers about a connecting pin relatively pivotable, and to transmit theoperating force through the connecting pin; a load sensor disposed in asensory housing hole with a predetermined clearance formed in a sensorarranging member that is one of the pair of members to be connectedthrough the connecting pin, electrically detecting the operating force,and including a shaft member, a main body member disposed to berelatively displaced to the shaft member in a direction perpendicular toan axis thereof, a deforming member spanned over the shaft member andthe main body member, and strain detecting elements fixed to thedeforming member, the strain detecting elements detecting a deformationcaused in the deforming member by allowing a relative displacementbetween the shaft member and the main body member in the directionperpendicular to the axis of the shaft member based on the reactionforce; at least one pivotal moving link disposed on the sensor arrangingmember to be pivotable around a first supporting pin parallel to theconnecting pin in the pivotal movement connecting portion, the pivotalmoving link connected relatively pivotable to the connecting pin that isinserted into an elongated hole formed in the sensor arranging member tobe displaceable relative to the sensor arranging member, and connectedto one of the shaft member and the main bed member of the load sensor tobe pivoted around the first supporting pin by the operating forceapplied from the connecting pin or by the reaction force; and a swinginglever disposed on the sensor arranging member, connected to a secondsupporting pin parallel to the connecting pin to be swingable around thesecond supporting pin, and connected to the other of the shaft memberand the main member.